Pyrazole compounds

ABSTRACT

Aryl substituted pyrazole derivatives are provided, as well as processes for their preparation. The invention also provides compositions and methods for the treatment of HCV by administering a compound of the present invention, alone or in combination with additional antiviral agents, in a therapeutically effective amount.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Strategies in new drug discovery often look to natural products for leads in finding new chemical compounds with therapeutic properties. One of the recurring problems in drug discovery is the availability of organic compounds derived from natural sources. Techniques employing combinatorial chemistry attempt to overcome this problem by allowing the high throughput synthesis and testing of hundreds or thousands of related synthetic compounds, called a chemical library. In designing the synthesis of a prospective therapeutic compound or a chemical library, one often looks to natural chemical motifs which are known to have broad biological activity.

Pyrazole has a long history of application in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry, and posses a widespread occurrence as sub-structures in a large variety of compounds, which exhibit important biological activities and pharmacological properties. Elguero, J. In Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry II; Katritzky, A. R.; Rees, C. W.; Scriven, E. F. V.; Pergamon-Elsevier Science: Oxiford, 1996; Vol. 6, pp. 1-75; (b) Sutharchanadevi, M.; Murugan, R. In Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry II; Katritzky, A. R.; Rees, C. W.; Scriven, E. F. V.; Pergamon-Elsevier Science: Oxiford, 1996; Vol. 6, pp. 221-260.

Infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a serious world-wide health crisis. In more than 70% of infected individuals, the virus evades clearance by the immune system leading to a persistent HCV infection. The long term effects of persistent HCV infection range from an apparently healthy carrier state to chronic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV is a leading cause of chronic liver disease. The best therapy currently available for treatment of HCV infection uses a combination of pegylated α-interferon and ribavirin. However, many of the patients treated with this therapy fail to show a sufficient antiviral response. Additionally, interferon treatment also induces severe side-effects (i.e. retinopathy, thyroiditis, acute pancreatitis, depression) that diminish the quality of life of treated patients. Thus, it is vital that more effective treatments be identified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides pyrazole derivatives of the formula I:

wherein:

-   ring A is selected from a 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings which may     optionally contain 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms; -   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴—O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴—N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), —OC(O)R³⁴,         —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴, —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl,     aryl, heteroaryl,

-   -   wherein     -   Z is selected from O, N—OR⁴⁶¹;         -   R⁴⁶¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl and             —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴¹, R⁴³, R⁴⁴, R⁴⁶, R⁴⁷, R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected         from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴⁵ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl,         aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, —OR⁴²¹,         —SR⁴²¹, —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,         —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,         —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   a is 1 to 6;

-   R⁵ is selected from H, OR⁵¹, —SR⁵¹, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,     alkenyl, alkynyl, CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁵¹, —SO₃R⁵¹,     —SO₂N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R⁵¹, —C(O)OR⁵¹, —C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —OC(O)R⁵¹, —OC(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     —O(CH₂)_(e)C(O)OR⁵¹, —O(CH₂)_(e)C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     —N(R⁵¹)C(O)R⁵¹, and —N(R⁵¹)SO₂R⁵¹;     -   each R⁵¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   R⁵² and R⁵³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   e is 1 to 6;     -   alternatively, —O—R⁵¹ is combined with R⁴¹, R⁴⁶, or R⁴⁷ to give         a 6-membered ring that is fused to ring A and to the pyrazole         ring;

-   or R⁵ is selected from a group having the formula:

-   -   wherein         -   each R⁵⁴ and R⁵⁶ is independently selected from —OR⁵⁷, halo,             alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, NO₂, CN,             —C(O)R⁵⁷, —C(O)OR⁵⁷, —C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —OC(O)R⁵⁷,             —OC(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)OR⁵⁷,             —O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁷)C(O)R⁵⁷,             —N(R⁵⁷)SO₂R⁵⁷, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             -   each R⁵⁷ is independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl;             -   R⁵⁸ and R⁵⁹ are independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl; or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken                 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached                 form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally                 contain a further heteroatom;             -   i is 1 to 6;         -   X¹ is selected from N and CH;         -   f is 1 to 6;         -   g is 0 to 4; and         -   h if 0 to 5;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a compound having the formula V:

wherein:

-   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴—N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴—SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), —OC(O)R³⁴,         —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴, —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl; each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected             from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl; or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with             the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5- to             7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom; -   R⁴⁵ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, aryl,     aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²; -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, —OR⁴²¹,     —SR⁴²¹, —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo, cycloalkyl,     cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   a is 1 to 6;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

The invention also provides a synthetic process for the preparation of compounds of the invention. The process uses mild reaction conditions, which provides a high substituent tolerance. Thus, the process is applicable to the preparation of a wide variety of pyrazole derivatives with diverse substitution patterns. Additionally, the process is appropriate for use with combinatorial synthesis techniques. Thus, the process provides a method for producing a library of pyrazole derivatives for biological screening.

The invention also provides compositions and methods for the treatment of HCV by administering a compound of the present invention in a therapeutically effective amount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The term “halo” or “halogen” as used herein includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

The term “alkyl” as used herein contemplates both straight and branched chain alkyl radicals containing from one to fifteen carbon atoms. The term “lower alkyl” as used herein contemplates both straight and branched chain alkyl radicals containing from one to six carbon atoms and includes methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, and the like. Additionally, the alkyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, CN, NO₂, CO₂R, C(O)R, —O—R, —N(R′)(R″), —N(R)C(O)R, —N(R)SO₂R, —SR, —C(O)N(R′)(R″), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R′)(R″), SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R, —SO₂N(R′)(R″), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

The term “alkenyl” as used herein contemplates both straight and branched chain alkene radicals containing from two to 8 carbon atoms. Additionally, the alkenyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, CN, NO₂, CO₂R, C(O)R, —O—R, —N(R′)(R″), —N(R)C(O)R, —N(R)SO₂R, —SR, —C(O)N(R′)(R″), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R′)(R″), SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R, —SO₂N(R′)(R″), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

The term “alkynyl” as used herein contemplates both straight and branched carbon chain containing from two to 8 carbon atoms and having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. The term alkynyl includes, for example ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, 1-butynyl, 3-methyl-1-butynyl, and the like. Additionally, the alkynyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, CN, NO₂, CO₂R, C(O)R, —O—R, —N(R′)(R″), —N(R)C(O)R, —N(R)SO₂R, —SR, —C(O)N(R′)(R″), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R′)(R″), SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R, —SO₂N(R′)(R″), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein contemplates cyclic alkyl radicals containing form 3 to 7 carbon atoms and includes cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like. Additionally, the cycloalkyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, CN, NO₂, CO₂R, C(O)R, —O—R, —N(R′)(R″), —N(R)C(O)R, —N(R)SO₂R, —SR, —C(O)N(R′)(R″), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R′)(R″), SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R, —SO₂N(R′)(R″), halo, alkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

The term “cycloalkenyl” as used herein contemplates cyclic alkenyl radicals containing form 5 to 7 carbon atoms in which has a double bond between two of the ring carbons and includes cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, and the like. Additionally, the cycloalkenyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, CN, NO₂, CO₂R, C(O)R, —O—R, —N(R′)(R″), —N(R)C(O)R, —N(R)SO₂R, —SR, —C(O)N(R′)(R″), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R′)(R″), SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R, —SO₂N(R′)(R″), halo, alkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

The term “aralkyl” as used herein contemplates a lower alkyl group which has as a substituent an aromatic group. Additionally, the aralkyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, CN, NO₂, CO₂R, C(O)R, —O—R, —N(R′)(R″), —N(R)C(O)R, —N(R)SO₂R, —SR, —C(O)N(R′)(R″), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R′)(R″), SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R, —SO₂N(R′)(R″), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

The term “heterocyclic group” or “heterocyclic ring” as used herein contemplates aromatic and non-aromatic cyclic radicals having at least one heteroatom as a ring member. Preferred heterocyclic groups are those containing 5 or 6 ring atoms which includes at least one hetero atom, and includes cyclic amines such as morpholino, piperidino, pyrrolidino, and the like, and cyclic ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, and the like. Aromatic heterocyclic groups, also termed “heteroaryl” groups contemplates single-ring hetero-aromatic groups that may include from one to three heteroatoms, for example, pyrrole, furan, thiophene, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, triazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, and the like. The term heteroaryl also includes polycyclic hetero-aromatic systems having two or more rings in which two atoms are common to two adjoining rings (the rings are “fused”) wherein at least one of the rings is a heteroaryl, e.g., the other rings can be cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, aryl, heterocycles and/or heteroaryls. Examples of polycyclic heteroaromatic systems include quinoline, isoquinoline, tetrahydroisoquinoline, quinoxaline, quinaxoline, benzimidazole, benzofuran, purine, imidazopyridine, benzotriazole, and the like. Additionally, the heterocyclic group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, alkyl, CN, NO₂, CO₂R, C(O)R, —O—R, —N(R′)(R″), —N(R)C(O)R, —N(R)SO₂R, —SR, —C(O)N(R′)(R″), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R′)(R″), SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R, —SO₂N(R′)(R″), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

The terms “aryl”, “aromatic group”, or “aromatic ring” as used herein contemplates single-ring aromatic groups (for example, phenyl, pyridyl, pyrazole, etc.) and polycyclic ring systems (naphthyl, quinoline, etc.). The polycyclic rings may have two or more rings in which two atoms are common to two adjoining rings (the rings are “fused”) wherein at least one of the rings is aromatic, e.g., the other rings can be cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, aryl, heterocycles and/or heteroaryls. Additionally, the aryl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, alkyl, CN, NO₂, CO₂R, C(O)R, —O—R, —N(R′)(R″), —N(R)C(O)R, —N(R)SO₂R, —SR, —C(O)N(R′)(R″), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R′)(R″), SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R, —SO₂N(R′)(R″), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

Each R is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl. Each R′ and R″ are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R′ and R″ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further heteroatom.

The term “heteroatom”, particularly as a ring heteroatom, refers to N, O, and S.

All value ranges, for example those given for n and m, are inclusive over the entire range. Thus, a range of 0 to 4 would include the values 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The present invention provides pyrazole derivatives of the formula I:

wherein:

-   ring A is selected from a 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings which may     optionally contain 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms; -   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R¹² and R¹³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,             alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and             R¹³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which they             are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may             optionally contain a further heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl,     aryl, heteroaryl,

-   -   wherein     -   Z is selected from O, N—OR⁴⁶¹;         -   R⁴⁶¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl and             —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴¹, R⁴³, R⁴⁴, R⁴⁶, R⁴⁷, R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected         from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴⁵ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl,         aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, OR⁴²¹,         —SR⁴²¹, —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,         —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,         —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   a is 1 to 6;

-   R⁵ is selected from H, OR⁵¹, —SR⁵¹, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,     alkenyl, alkynyl, CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁵¹, —SO₃R⁵¹,     —SO₂N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R⁵¹, —C(O)OR⁵¹, —C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —OC(O)R⁵¹, —OC(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     —O(CH₂)_(e)C(O)OR¹¹, —O(CH₂)_(e)C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     —N(R⁵¹)C(O)R⁵¹, and —N(R⁵¹)SO₂R⁵¹;     -   each R⁵¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   R⁵² and R⁵³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken together with the         nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring         which may optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   e is 1 to 6;     -   alternatively, —O—R⁵¹ is combined with R⁴¹, R⁴⁶, or R⁴⁷ to give         a 6-membered ring that is fused to ring A and to the pyrazole         ring;

-   or R⁵ is selected from a group having the formula:

-   -   wherein         -   each R⁵⁴ and R⁵⁶ is independently selected from —OR⁵⁷, halo,             alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, NO₂, CN,             —C(O)R⁵⁷, —C(O)OR⁵⁷, —C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —OC(O)R⁵⁷,             —OC(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)OR⁵⁷,             —O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹)—N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁷)C(O)R⁵⁷,             —N(R⁵⁷)SO₂R⁵⁷, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             -   each R⁵⁷ is independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl;             -   R⁵⁸ and R⁵⁹ are independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl; or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken                 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached                 form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally                 contain a further heteroatom;             -   i is 1 to 6;         -   X¹ is selected from N and CH;         -   f is 1 to 6;         -   g is 0 to 4; and         -   h if 0 to 5;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

The dashed line in Ring A represents an optional double bond, as would be understood by the ordinarily skilled worker in the art.

The substances according to the invention may also be present as salts. In the context of the invention, preference is given to pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts refers to an acid addition salt or a basic addition salt of a compound of the invention in which the resulting counter ion is understood in the art to be generally acceptable for pharmaceutical uses. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be salts of the compounds according to the invention with inorganic or organic acids. Preference is given to salts with inorganic acids, such as, for example, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid, or to salts with organic carboxylic or sulfonic acids, such as, for example, acetic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, or methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, phenylsulfonic acid, toluenesulfonic acid or naphthalenedisulfonic acid. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can also be metal or ammonium salts of the compounds according to the invention. Particular preference is given to, for example, sodium, potassium, magnesium or calcium salts, and also to ammonium salts which are derived from ammonia or organic amines, such as, for example, ethylamine, di- or triethylamine, di- or triethanolamine, dicyclohexylamine, dimethylaminoethanol, arginine, lysine, ethylenediamine or 2-phenylethylamine. (see, Berge et al. J. Pharm. Sci. 1977, 66, 1-19.)

When one or more chiral centers are present in the compounds of the present invention, the individual isomers and mixtures thereof (e.g., racemates, etc.) are intended to be encompassed by the formulae depicted herein. In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention may exist in several tautomeric forms. Accordingly, the chemical structures depicted herein encompass all possible tautomeric forms of the illustrated compounds. Compounds of the invention may exist in various hydrated forms.

It is understood that when n is a value greater than 1, each R¹ group may be selected independently. Thus, when more than one R¹ group is present, the R¹ groups may be selected from any of the stated groups so as to be the same or different. This also holds true for any other group or substituent which may be selected independently from among various groups or values.

In preferred embodiments, R⁵ is selected from OR⁵¹, —OC(O)R⁵¹, —OC(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), O(CH₂)_(e)C(O)OR⁵¹, —O(CH₂)_(e)C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —N(R⁵¹)C(O)R⁵¹, and —N(R⁵¹)SO₂R⁵¹.

In one embodiment of the invention, R⁵ is selected to be a group of the formula O—R⁶ to give a compound of the formula II

wherein:

-   ring A is selected from a 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings which may     optionally contain 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms; -   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R¹² and R¹³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,             alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and             R¹³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which they             are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may             optionally contain a further heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl,     aryl, heteroaryl,

-   -   wherein     -   Z is selected from O, N—OR⁴⁶¹;         -   R⁴⁶¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl and             —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴¹, R⁴³, R⁴⁴, R⁴⁶, R⁴⁷, R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected         from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴⁵ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl,         aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, OR⁴²¹,         SR⁴²¹, —C(O)R⁴²¹, —(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³)—OC(O)R⁴²¹,         —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,         —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   a is 1 to 6;

-   R⁶ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R⁵¹, —C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     (CH₂)_(e)C(O)OR⁵¹, and —(CH₂)_(e)C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     -   each R⁵¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   R⁵² and R⁵³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   e is 1 to 6;     -   alternatively, R⁶ is combined with R⁴¹, R⁴⁶, or R⁴⁷ to give a         6-membered ring that is fused to ring A and to the pyrazole         ring;

-   or R⁶ is selected from a group having the formula:

-   -   wherein         -   each R⁵⁴ and R⁵⁶ is independently selected from —OR⁵⁷, halo,             alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, NO₂, CN,             —C(O)R⁵⁷, —C(O)OR⁵⁷, —C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —OC(O)R⁵⁷,             —OC(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)OR⁵⁷,             —O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁷)C(O)R⁵⁷,             —N(R⁵⁷)SO₂R⁵⁷, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             -   each R⁵⁷ is independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl;             -   R⁵⁸ and R⁵⁹ are independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl; or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken                 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached                 form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally                 contain a further heteroatom;             -   i is 1 to 6;         -   X¹ is selected from N and CH;         -   f is 1 to 6;         -   g is 0 to 4; and         -   h if 0 to 5;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ring A of the compound according to formula II is selected to be a phenyl or substituted phenyl to give a compound of the formula III:

wherein:

-   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl,     aryl, heteroaryl,

-   -   wherein     -   Z is selected from O, N—OR⁴⁶¹;         -   R⁴⁶¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl and             —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²     -   R⁴¹, R⁴³, R⁴⁴, R⁴⁶, R⁴⁷, R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected         from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴⁵ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl,         aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴², —N(R⁴²)SO₂R⁴²¹, OR⁴²¹,         —SR⁴²¹, —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,         —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SOR⁴²¹,         —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

-   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   a is 1 to 6;

-   R⁶ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R⁵¹, —C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     (CH₂)_(e)C(O)OR⁵¹, and —(CH₂)_(e)C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), each R⁵¹ is     independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,     alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   R⁵² and R⁵³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   e is 1 to 6;     -   alternatively, R⁶ is combined with R⁴¹, R⁴⁶, or R⁴⁷ to give a         6-membered ring that is fused to ring A and to the pyrazole         ring;

-   or R⁶ is selected from a group having the formula:

-   -   wherein         -   each R⁵⁴ and R⁵⁶ is independently selected from —OR⁵⁷, halo,             alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, NO₂, CN,             —C(O)R⁵⁷, —C(O)OR⁵⁷, —C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —OC(O)R⁵⁷,             —OC(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)OR⁵⁷,             —O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁷)C(O)R⁵⁷,             —N(R⁵⁷)SO₂R⁵⁷, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             -   each R⁵⁷ is independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl;             -   R⁵⁸ and R⁵⁹ are independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl; or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken                 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached                 form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally                 contain a further heteroatom;             -   i is 1 to 6;         -   X¹ is selected from N and CH;         -   f is 1 to 6;         -   g is 0 to 4; and         -   h if 0 to 5;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In a further embodiment of the invention, R⁴ of a compound according to formula III is selected to be a group of the formula

and the ring A is selected to be a phenyl or substituted phenyl to give a compound of the formula IV:

wherein:

-   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R¹² and R¹³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,             alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and             R¹³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which they             are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may             optionally contain a further heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴—O—R³⁴—N(R³⁴)(R³⁵), —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴,         —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), —OC(O)R³⁴,         —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴, —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴⁵ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, aryl,     aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²; -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, OR⁴²¹,     —SR⁴²¹, C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo, cycloalkyl,     cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   a is 1 to 6;

-   R⁶ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,     aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R⁵¹, —C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), (CH₂)_(e)C(O)OR⁵¹, and     —(CH₂)_(e)C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     -   each R⁵¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   R⁵² and R⁵³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   e is 1 to 6;

-   or R⁶ is selected from a group having the formula:

-   -   wherein         -   each R⁵⁴ and R⁵⁶ is independently selected from OH, halo,             alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, NO₂, CN, —C(O)R⁵⁷,             —C(O)OR⁵⁷, —C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —OC(O)R⁵⁷, —OC(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹),             O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)OR⁵⁷, —O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹),             —N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁷)C(O)R⁵⁷, —N(R⁵⁷)SO₂R⁵⁷, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;             -   each R⁵⁷ is independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and                 heteroaryl;             -   R⁵⁸ and R⁵⁹ are independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and                 heteroaryl; or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken together with                 the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5- to                 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further                 heteroatom;             -   i is 1 to 6;         -   X¹ is selected from N and CH;         -   f is 1 to 6;         -   g is 0 to 4; and         -   h if 0 to 5;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

TABLE 1 Table 1 provides representative embodiments for compounds of the formula IV.

No. R¹ R² R³ R⁶ R⁴⁵ MW 1 — CH₃ H H CH₃ 212.25 21432 — CH₃ H H

288.34 21433 — CH₃ H H

304.34 21434 — CH₃ H H

308.76 21435 — CH₃ H H

278.35 21436 — CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CN 265.31 21437 — CH₃ H H

292.31 21438 — CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 254.33 21439 — CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 274.75 21440 — CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 254.33 21441 — CH₃ H H —CH₂OCH₃ 242.27 21442 — CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 256.30 21443 — CH₃ H H

320.41 21444 —

H H

364.44 21445 —

H H

380.44 21446 —

H H

396.51 21447 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

302.37 21448 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

318.37 23306 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

322.79 23307 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

292.37 23308 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CN 279.34 23309 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

306.33 23310 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 268.35 23311 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 288.77 23312 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 268.35 23313 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H —CH₂OCH₃ 256.30 23314 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 270.33 23315 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

334.43 23316 5-Cl CH₃ H H

322.79 23317 5-Cl CH₃ H H

338.79 23318 5-Cl CH₃ H H

343.21 23319 5-Cl CH₃ H H

312.79 23320 5-Cl CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CN 299.75 23321 5-Cl CH₃ H H

326.75 23322 5-Cl CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 288.77 23323 5-Cl CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 309.19 23324 5-Cl CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 288.77 23325 5-Cl CH₃ H H —CH₂OCH₃ 276.62 23326 5-Cl CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 290.74 23327 5-Cl CH₃ H H

354.85 23328 5-Cl

H H

398.88 23329 5-Cl

H H

414.88 23330 5-Cl

H H

419.30 23331 5-Cl

H H

388.89 23332 5-Cl

H H —(CH₂)₃CN 375.85 23333 5-Cl

H H

402.85 23334 5-Cl

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 364.87 23335 5-Cl

H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 385.29 23336 5-Cl

H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 364.87 23337 5-Cl

H H —CH₂OCH₃ 352.81 23338 5-Cl

H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 366.84 23339 5-Cl

H H

430.95 23340 —

H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 330.42 23341 5-Br CH₃ H H

367.24 23342 5-Br CH₃ H H

383.24 23343 5-Br CH₃ H H

387.66 23344 5-Br CH₃ H H

357.24 23345 5-Br CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CN 344.21 23346 5-Br CH₃ H H

371.20 23347 5-Br CH₃ H H

421.24 23348 5-Br CH₃ H H

353.21 23350 5-Br CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 353.64 23351 5-Br CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 333.22 23352 5-Br CH₃ H H —CH₂OCH₃ 321.17 23353 5-Br CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 335.20 23354 5-Br CH₃ H H

399.30 23355 5-Br CH₃ H H

397.27 23356 5-Br CH₃ H H

375.26 23357 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

397.27 23358 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

413.26 23359 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

417.68 23360 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

387.27 23361 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CN 374.23 23362 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

401.23 23363 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

451.27 23364 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

383.24 23366 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 383.67 23367 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 363.25 23368 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 365.22 23369 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

429.33 23370 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

427.29 23371 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H

405.29 23373 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

336.81 23374 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

352.81 23375 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

357.23 23376 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

326.82 23377 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

340.78 23378 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

390.82 23379 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

322.79 23380 4-CH₃ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 323.22 5-Cl 23381 4-CH₃ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 302.80 5-Cl 23382 4-CH₃ CH₃ H H —CH₂OCH₃ 290.74 5-Cl 23383 4-CH₃ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 304.77 5-Cl 23384 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

368.88 23385 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

366.84 23386 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

344.84 23387 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

382.84 23388 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

387.26 23389 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

356.85 23390 4-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CN 343.81 5-Cl 23391 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

370.80 23392 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

420.84 23393 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

352.81 23395 4-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 353.24 5-Cl 23396 4-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 332.82 5-Cl 23397 4-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —CH₂OCH₃ 320.77 5-Cl 23398 4-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 334.80 5-Cl 23399 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

398.91 23400 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

396.87 23401 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

374.86 23402 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

333.34 23403 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

349.34 23404 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

353.76 23405 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

323.35 23406 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CN 310.31 23407 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

337.30 23408 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

387.34 23409 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

319.31 23411 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 319.74 23412 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 299.32 23413 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H —CH₂OCH₃ 287.27 23414 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 301.30 23415 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

365.41 23416 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

341.36 23417 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

363.37 23418 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

379.37 23419 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

383.79 23420 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

353.37 23421 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CN 340.33 23422 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

367.33 23423 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

417.37 23424 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

349.34 23425 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 329.35 23427 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 349.77 23428 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 329.35 23429 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 331.32 23430 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

395.43 23431 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H

371.39 23432 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

318.37 23433 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

334.37 23434 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

338.79 23435 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

308.37 23437 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

322.33 23438 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

372.37 23439 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

304.34 23440 — CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 284.35 23441 — CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 304.77 23442 — CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 284.35 23443 — CH₂CH₂OH H H —OCH₃ 258.27 23444 — CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 286.33 23445 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

250.43 23446 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

348.40 23447 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

326.39 23448 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

332.40 23449 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

348.40 23450 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

352.81 23451 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

322.40 23452 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CN 309.36 23453 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

336.36 23454 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

386.40 23455 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

318.37 23456 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 298.38 23457 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 318.80 23458 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 298.38 23459 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —OCH₃ 272.30 23460 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 300.35 23461 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

364.46 23462 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

362.42 23463 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

340.42 23464 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

352.81 23465 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

373.23 23466 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

342.82 23467 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CN 329.78 23468 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

356.78 23469 50Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

406.82 23470 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

338.79 23471 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 318.80 23472 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃Cl 339.22 23473 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H —(CH₂)₃CH₃ 318.80 23474 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H —OCH₃ 292.72 23475 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₂OH 320.77 23476 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

384.88 23477 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

382.84 23478 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

360.83 23704 — CH₃ H H

373.23 23705 — CH₃ H H

294.39 23706 — CH₃ H H

275.30 23707 — CH₃ H H

275.30 23708 — CH₃ H H

289.33 23709 — CH₃ H H

342.31 23710 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

387.26 23711 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

308.42 23712 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

289.33 23713 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

289.33 23714 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

303.36 23715 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

356.34 23716 5-Cl CH₃ H H

407.68 23717 5-Cl CH₃ H H

328.84 23718 5-Cl CH₃ H H

309.75 23719 5-Cl CH₃ H H

309.75 23720 5-Cl CH₃ H H

323.78 23721 5-Cl CH₃ H H

376.76 23722 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

403.26 23723 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

324.42 23724 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

305.33 23725 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

319.36 23726 — CH₂CH₂OH H H

372.34 23727 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

417.29 23728 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

338.44 23729 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

319.36 23730 5-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H

386.37 23731 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

437.70 23732 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

358.86 23733 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

353.80 23734 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

406.79 24679 — CH₃ H H

318.37 24680 — CH₃ H H

296.36 24681 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

332.40 24682 5-CH₃ CH₃ H H

310.39 24683 5-Cl CH₃ H H

352.81 24684 5-Cl CH₃ H H

330.81 24685 4-CH₃ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 302.80 5-Cl 24686 4-CH₃ CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 332.82 5-Cl 24687 5-Br CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 333.22 24688 5-Br CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 363.25 24689 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 299.32 24691 4-CH₃ CH₃ H H —(CH₂)₃CN 313.78 5-Cl 24692 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₂CH₂OH H H

366.84 24695 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

363.37 24697 5-NO₂ CH₂CH₂OH H H —CH₂OCH₃ 317.30 25058 — CH₃

H

364.44 25059 — CH₃ H

434.49 26558 — CH₃ H H

346.47 27058 — CH₃ H H

282.34 30716 — CH₃

H —(CH₂)₃CN 341.41 33471 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 375.42 33472 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 409.87 33474 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 395.84 33475 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 429.40 33476 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 430.29 33478 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 379.39 33481 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 391.43 33482 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 430.29 33486 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 429.40 33487 5-NO₂

H H —C(CH₃)₃ 397.38 33508 5-NO₂ CH₃ H —CH₂CO₂H —C(CH₃)₃ 357.36 33513 5-Br CH₃ H —CH₂CO₂Et —(CH₂)₃CN 430.30 33514 5-Br CH₃ H

—(CH₂)₃CN 503.22 33515 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 365.38 33516 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 455.55 33517 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 458.34 33518 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 425.43 33519 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 458.34 33520 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 425.43 33521 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 441.88 33522 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 423.89 33523 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 423.89 33524 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 461.41 33525 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 434.44 33526 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 434.44 33527 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 414.46 33528 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 414.46 33529 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 414.46 33530 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 457.44 33531 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 403.47 33532 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 403.47 33533 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 403.47 33534 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 417.50 33535 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 389.45 33536 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 407.44 33537 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 407.44 33538 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 425.43 33539 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 479.40 33540 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 461.41 33541 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 447.48 33542 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 457.44 33543 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 473.44 33638 5-NO₂ CH₃ H —CH₂CO₂Et —C(CH₃)₃ 385.41 33674 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 403.43 33675 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 437.88 33676 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 489.42 33677 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 489.42 33678 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 489.42 33679 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 489.42 33680 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 471.43 33681 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 489.42 33682 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 517.62 33683 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 639.43 33684 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 489.42 33685 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 428.44 33686 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 539.43 33687 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

—C(CH₃)₃ 471.43 34141 5-Br CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 361.24 34142 5-NH₂ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 269.35 34144 5-Br CH₃

H —C(CH₃)₃ 480.36 34145 5-OCH₃ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 284.36 34146 5-Br CH₃ —C(O)N(CH₃)₂ H —C(CH₃)₃ 404.31 34147 5-Br CH₃ H —C(O)CH₃ —C(CH₃)₃ 375.26 34148 5- —C═CHCO₂CH₃ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 338.41 34177 5- —NHSO₂CH₃ CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 347.43 34178

CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 423.53 34179

CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 477.53 34180 5- —CH═CHCO₂H CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 324.38 34227 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

320.31 34228 5-NO₂ CH₃ H H

334.33 34229 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

323.78 34230 4-CH₃ 5-Cl CH₃ H H

337.81 34231 4-CH₃ 5-Cl —CH₂CH₂OH H H

353.81 34232 4-CH₃ 5-Cl —CH₂CH₂OH H H

367.83 34233 5-CH₃ —CH₂CH₂OH H H

333.39 34234 5-Cl —CH₂CH₂OH H H

339.78 34235 5-Br —CH₃ H H

354.20 34236 5-Br —CH₃ H H

368.23 34237 5-Br —CH₂CH₂OH H H

398.26 34238 5-Br —CH₂CH₂OH H H

384.23 34295 5- —C≡C(CH₂)₃CN —CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 345.44 34297 5-Br —CH₃

H —C(CH₃)₃ 441.34 34298 5-Br —CH₃ —(CH₂)₃CN H —C(CH₃)₃ 424.34 34300 5-Br —CH₃ I H —C(CH₃)₃ 459.12 34302

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 441.45 34303

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 509.45 34304

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 509.45 34305

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 459.44 34306

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 459.44 34307

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 459.44 34308

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 459.44 34309

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 459.44 34310

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 459.44 34311

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 449.54 34392

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 388.90 34393

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 384.48 34394

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 388.90 34395

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 374.52 34396 —C≡CC(CH₃)₂OH —CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 336.43 34397

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 400.54 34398

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 376.50 34399

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 318.42 34401

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 378.51 34402

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 364.49 34403

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 362.47 34404

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 392.54 34405

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 418.92 34406

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 414.50 34407

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 418.92 34408

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 388.51 34409 —C≡CC(CH₃)₃ —CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 364.49 34410

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 404.55 34411

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 385.46 34412 —C≡C(CH₂)₃CN —CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 375.47 34413 —C≡CCH₂OCH₃ —CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 352.43 34414 —C≡CC(CH₃)₂OH —CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 366.46 34415

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 406.52 34416

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 348.44 34417

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 490.60 34419

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 408.54 34420

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 394.51 34421

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 392.50 34422

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 422.57 34423

—CH₂CH₂OH H H —C(CH₃)₃ 488.58 34424 5-NO₂ —CH₃ H H

283.29 34425 5-NO₂ —CH₂CH₂OH H H

313.31 34426 4-CH₃ 5-Cl —CH₃ H H

286.76 34427 4-CH₃ 5-Cl —CH₂CH₂OH H H

316.78 34428 5-CH₃ —CH₃ H H

252.32 34429 5-CH₃ —CH₂CH₂OH H H

282.34 34430 5-Cl —CH₃ H H

272.73 34431 5-Cl —CH₂CH₂OH H H

302.76 34432 5-Br —CH₃ H H

317.18 34433 5-Br —CH₂CH₂OH H H

347.21 34434 4-CH₃ 5-F —CH₃ H H

270.31 34435 4-CH₃ 5-F —CH₂CH₂OH H H

300.33 34436

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 362.45 34927 3-NO₂ —CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 344.33 5-NO₂ 34928 3-NO₂ —CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 378.22 5-Br 35030

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 365.47 35031

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 348.42 35036

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 346.43 35528

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 374.44 35529

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 345.44 35530

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 355.44 35531

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 344.46 35532

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 386.51 35533

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 358.44 35534

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 465.61 35535

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 348.42 35536

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 348.42 35537

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 365.86 35538

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 334.42 35539

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 330.43 35540 5-C(O)H —CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 282.34 35541

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 399.32 35542

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 346.43 35543

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 364.87 35544

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 360.45 35545

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 380.49 35546

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 380.49 35547

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 468.63 35548

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 420.51 35549

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 360.45 35550

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 378.45 35551

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 331.42 35552

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 400.85 35553

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 366.41 35554

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 400.31 35555

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 320.39 35556

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 442.34 35557

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 367.45 35558

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 407.90 35559

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 407.90 35560

—CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 379.50 35569 5-CO₂H —CH₃ H H —C(CH₃)₃ 298.34

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, R² of the compound according to the formula IV is selected to be methyl and R⁶ is selected to be H to give a compound having the formula V:

wherein:

-   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴⁵ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, aryl,     aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²; -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²)SO₂R⁴²¹, —OR⁴²¹,     —SR⁴²¹, —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo, cycloalkyl,     cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   a is 1 to 6;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In another embodiment of the invention, R⁴ of a compound according to the formula II is selected to be a group of the formula

and R⁶ is combined with R⁴¹ to give a compound having the formula VI:

wherein

-   ring A is selected from a 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings which may     optionally contain 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms; -   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴³, and R⁴⁴ are independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl,     aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl and     —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²; -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, —SR⁴²¹,     —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom; and     -   a is 1 to 6;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ring A of the compound according to formula VI is selected to be a phenyl or substituted phenyl to give a compound of the formula VI_(a):

wherein

-   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴³, and R⁴⁴ are independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl,     aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl and     —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²; -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, —SR⁴²¹,     —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom; and     -   a is 1 to 6;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

Table 2 provides representative embodiments for compounds of the formula VI.

TABLE 2 (VI)

No. R¹ R² R³ R⁴³ R⁴⁴ MW 24698 H CH₃ H

408.49 24699 H CH₃ H

462.47 24700 H CH₃ H

428.92 24701 H CH₃ H

430.45 24702 H CH₃ H

400.49 24703 H CH₃ H

424.49 24704 H CH₃ H

386.49 24705 H CH₃ H

440.46 24706 H CH₃ H

406.91 24707 H CH₃ H

408.45 24709 H CH₃ H

409.49 24710 5-CH₃ CH₃ H

422.52 24711 5-CH₃ CH₃ H

442.94 24712 5-CH₃ CH₃ H

444.48 24713 5-CH₃ CH₃ H

414.52 24714 5-CH₃ CH₃ H

438.52 24722 5-Cl CH₃ H

442.94 24724 5-Cl CH₃ H

496.92 24725 5-Cl CH₃ H

463.36 24726 5-Cl CH₃ H

464.90 24727 5-Cl CH₃ H

434.94 24730 5-Cl, 4-CH₃ CH₃ H

446.90 24734 5-Cl, 4-CH₃ CH₃ H

384.92 24735 5-Cl, 4-CH₃ CH₃ H

408.93 24737 5-Cl, 4-CH₃ HOCH₂CH₂ H

476.92 24738 5-Cl, 4-CH₃ HOCH₂CH₂ H H

332.83 24741 5-Cl, 4-CH₃ HOCH₂CH₂ H

414.95 24744 Br CH₃ H

477.32 24745 Br CH₃ H

443.77 24746 Br CH₃ H

445.30 24747 Br CH₃ H

415.35 24748 Br CH₃ H

439.35 24749 NO₂ CH₃ H

409.87 24750 NO₂ CH₃ H

381.45 24751 5-Cl, 4-CH₃ CH₃ H

403.91 24995 5-Cl, 4-CH₃ HOCH₂CH₂ H

456.97 25047 H CH₃ H

406.48 25041 H CH₃ H

394.47 25044 H CH₃ H

432.44 25043 H CH₃ H

398.89 25042 H CH₃ H

400.42 25028 H CH₃ H

422.48 25029 H CH₃ H

426.90 25030 H CH₃ H

383.45 25031 5-CH₃ CH₃ H

420.51 25032 5-Cl CH₃ H

440.92 25033 5-NO₂ CH₃ H

451.48

In another embodiment of the invention, R⁴ of a compound according to formula II is selected to be a group of the formula

and R⁶ is combined with R⁴¹ to give a compound having the formula VII:

wherein

-   ring A is selected from a 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings which may     optionally contain 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms; -   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, R³⁴—N(R³⁴)(R³⁵), —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴,         —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴—SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), —OC(O)R³⁴,         —OC(O)N(R³⁵)³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴, —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl,     aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl and     —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²; -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, —SR⁴²¹,     —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom; and     -   a is 1 to 6;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ring A of the compound according to formula VII is selected to be a phenyl or substituted phenyl to give a compound of the formula VII_(a):

wherein

-   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl,     aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl and     —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²; -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(421)SO₂R⁴²¹, —SR⁴²¹,     —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom; and     -   a is 1 to 6;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

Table 3 provides representative embodiments for compounds of the formula VII_(a).

TABLE 3 (VII_(a))

No. R¹ R² R³ R⁴⁸ R⁴⁹ MW 33473 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 427.88 33477 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 448.30 33479 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 397.40 33480 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 431.84 33483 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 448.30 33484 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 397.40 33485 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 415.39 33488 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 393.44 33490 5-NO₂

H —OH —CH₂C(CH₃)₃ 429.39

In another embodiment of the invention, R⁴ of a compound according to the formula II is selected to be a group of the formula

and R⁶ is combined with R⁴¹ to give a compound having the formula VIII:

wherein

-   ring A is selected from a 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings which may     optionally contain 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms; -   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R¹² and R¹³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,             alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and             R¹³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which they             are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may             optionally contain a further heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   Z is selected from O, N—OR⁴⁶¹;     -   R⁴⁶¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴² -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, —SR⁴²¹,     —C(O)R⁴²¹, C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom; and     -   a is 1 to 6;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ring A of the compound according to formula VIII is selected to be a phenyl or substituted phenyl to give a compound of the formula VIII_(a):

wherein

-   each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,     aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹,     —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³),     CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³             are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,             cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl,             aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken             together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a             5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further             heteroatom, -   n is 0 to 4; -   R² is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹, —C(O)OR²¹,     -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl; -   R³ is selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cyloalkenyl, alkenyl,     alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,     —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴—O—R³⁴—N(R³⁴)(R³⁵), —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴,         —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), —OC(O)R³⁴,         —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴, —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom; -   Z is selected from O, N—OR⁴⁶¹;     -   R⁴⁶¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴² -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, —SR⁴²¹,     —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²¹), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,     —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aryl and heteroaryl; -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or         R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to, which         they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may         optionally contain a further heteroatom; and     -   a is 1 to 6;     -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In another embodiment of the invention, two compounds of the formula I are linked by a linking group, L, to form a dimeric compound. The two compounds of the formula I which are linked by L to form the dimeric compound may be linked through any position off of the formula I structure. Thus, two compounds of the formula I may be linked through a linking group at the position of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, or R⁵.

In one embodiment, the dimeric compound is linked through R⁴ of the compounds of formula I. In this embodiment, R⁴ of a compound according to formula I is selected to be a group of the formula

The resulting “dimeric” compound may be symmetric or unsymmetrical and is represented by the formula X:

wherein: ring A and ring A′ are independently selected from 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings which may optionally contain 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms; each R¹ and R¹′ are selected independently from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³),

-   -   —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹, —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹,         —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), CN, CF₃, NO₂,         SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo,         aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R¹² and R¹³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom,

-   n is 0 to 4;

-   R² and R²′ are selected independently from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,     cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹,     —C(O)OR²¹, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;

-   R³ and R³′ are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,     cyloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,     aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;

-   R⁵ and R⁵′ are independently selected from H, OR⁵¹, —SR⁵¹, alkyl,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂,     —SOR⁵¹, —SO₃R⁵¹, —SO₂N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo, aralkyl,     aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R⁵¹, —C(O)OR⁵¹, —C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —OC(O)R⁵¹,     —OC(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —O(CH₂)_(e)C(O)OR⁵¹, —O(CH₂)_(e)C(O)N(R⁵²)(R⁵³),     —N(R⁵²)(R⁵³), —N(R⁵¹)C(O)R⁵¹, and —N(R⁵¹)SO₂R⁵¹     -   each R⁵¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   R⁵² and R⁵³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;     -   e is 1 to 6;     -   alternatively, —O—R⁵¹ is combined with R⁴¹, R⁴⁶, or R⁴⁷ to give         a 6-membered ring that is fused to ring A and to the pyrazole         ring;

-   or R⁵ is selected from a group having the formula:

-   -   wherein         -   each R⁵⁴ and R⁵⁶ is independently selected from —OR⁵⁷, halo,             alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, NO₂, CN,             —C(O)R⁵⁷, —C(O)OR⁵⁷, —C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —OC(O)R⁵⁷,             —OC(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)OR⁵⁷,             —O(CH₂)_(i)C(O)N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁸)(R⁵⁹), —N(R⁵⁷)C(O)R⁵⁷,             —N(R⁵⁷)SO₂R⁵⁷, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             -   each R⁵⁷ is independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl;             -   R⁵⁸ and R⁵⁹ are independently selected from H, alkyl,                 cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl,                 aryl and heteroaryl; or R⁵² and R⁵³ may be taken                 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached                 form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally                 contain a further heteroatom;             -   i is 1 to 6;         -   X¹ is selected from N and CH;         -   f is 1 to 6;         -   g is 0 to 4; and         -   h is 0 to 5;         -   L is a linking group selected from —(CH₂)_(x)—,

-   -   -    or a group of the formula             -A-B-A-         -   wherein             -   A is selected from —N(R)—, —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —OC(O)—,                 —N(R)C(O)—, —N(R)C(O)O—, —N(R)SO₂—, —(CH₂)_(y)—, and                 —C≡C—;             -   B is selected from —(CH₂)_(z)—,

-   -   -   -    —(CH₂)_(v)-D-(CH₂)_(w)— wherein D is selected from O,                 S, —C═C—, —S—S—,

-   -   -   x is 3 to 25;         -   y is 1 to 10;         -   z is 1 to 10;         -   v is 1 to 8; and         -   w is 1 to 8;

    -   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

In another embodiment, the dimeric compound is linked through R⁵ of the compounds of formula 1. In this embodiment, R⁵ of a compound according to formula I is selected to be a group of the formula:

The resulting dimeric compound may be symmetric or unsymmetrical and is represented by the formula XI:

wherein

ring A and ring A′ are independently selected from 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings which may optionally contain 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms;

each R¹ and R¹′ are selected independently from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³),

-   -   —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹, —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹,         —C(O)N)(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), CN, CF₃, NO₂,         SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, halo,         aryl and heteroaryl;     -   additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent         ring atoms my be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring,         wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3         ring heteroatoms and may be further substituted with on or more         substituents selected from R¹;         -   each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R¹² and R¹³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom,

-   n is 0 to 4;

-   R² and R²′ are selected independently from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,     cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R²¹,     —C(O)OR²¹, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl;     -   R²¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;

-   R³ and R³′ are independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,     cyloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,     aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)R³¹, —C(O)OR³¹, —C(O)N(R³²)(R³³);     -   R³¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;     -   R³² and R³³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl,         alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R³² and R³³ may be         taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form         a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further         heteroatom and which may be optionally substituted with one or         more CN, NO₂, CO₂R³⁴, C(O)R³⁴, —O—R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)(R³⁵),         —N(R³⁴)C(O)R³⁴, —N(R³⁴)SO₂R³⁴, —SR³⁴, —C(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶),         —OC(O)R³⁴, —OC(O)N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), SO₂, —SOR³⁴, —SO₃R³⁴,         —SO₂N(R³⁵)(R³⁶), halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and         heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁴ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkeneyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl             and heteroaryl;         -   each R³⁵ and R³⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R³⁵ and R³⁶ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;

-   R⁴ and R⁴′ are selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, cycloalkyl,     aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,

-   -   wherein     -   Z is selected from O, N—OR⁴⁶¹;         -   R⁴⁶¹ is selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl and             —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²     -   R⁴¹, R⁴³, R⁴⁴, R⁴⁶, R⁴⁷, R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected         from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl,         cycloalkenyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴⁵ is selected from H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl,         aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²;     -   R⁴² is selected from —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(2)SO₂R⁴²¹, OR⁴²¹,         —SR⁴²¹, —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹, —C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹,         —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹,         —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo,         cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl;     -   or R⁴² is selected from a group having the formula

-   -   -   each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;         -   each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ are independently selected from H, alkyl,             cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;             or R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to             which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered ring which             may optionally contain a further heteroatom;         -   a is 1 to 6;         -   L is a linking group selected from —(CH₂)_(x)—,

-   -   -    or a group of the formula             -A-B-A-         -   wherein             -   A is selected from —N(R)—, —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —OC(O)—,                 —N(R)C(O)—, —N(R)C(O)O—, —N(R)SO₂—, —(CH₂)_(y)—, and                 —C≡C—;             -   B is selected from —(CH₂)_(z)—,

-   -   -   -    —(CH₂)_(v)-D-(CH₂)_(w)— wherein D is selected from O,                 S, —C═C—, —S—S—,

-   -   -   -   x is 3 to 25;             -   y is 1 to 10;             -   z is 1 to 10;             -   v is 1 to 8; and             -   w is 1 to 8;                 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate                 thereof.

In another aspect of the invention, a synthetic process for the preparation of compounds of the formula I-V is provided. The inventive process uses mild reaction conditions, which provides a high substituent tolerance. The product is obtained in high yield and high purity. A process of the present invention is illustrated by Scheme I:

Step 1 of Scheme 1 preferably involves using a Sonogashira reaction in which a compound of the formula C is prepared by reacting a compound of the formula A with a terminal alkyne represented by the formula B in the presence of base and a transition metal catalyst, wherein R¹, R², R³, R¹⁵ and n are as described above for the compound of the formula I. A suitable base may be, for example, an organic base such as a primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Non-limiting examples include triethylamine, diisopropylamine, 1,8-diazabicyclo-[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene (DBU), 1,5-diazabicyclo-[4,3,0]-non-5-ene (DBN), or 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]-octane (DABCO). Alternatively, an inorganic base may be used, such as an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt, such as a carbonate, bicarbonate or acetate salt.

The metal catalyst may be in the form of a salt or a complex with organic ligands. Particularly suitable metal catalysts are, for example, the Group VIII metals, preferably Pd(0) complexes or a Pd(II) salt. The ligands may be selected from, for example, phosphorus-containing ligands, such as triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) and 1,2-bis(diphenyl-phosphino)ethane (dppe). Preferred palladium catalysts include Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂, Pd(PPh₃)₄ and Pd(OAc)₂. The reaction is performed in the presence of a Cu(I) salt, such as a Cu(I) halide, Cu₂O, and CuCN, preferably CuI or CuCl. Suitable organic solvents include, but are not limited to, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran (THF) dimethylformamide (DMF), acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, and other polar aprotic solvents or mixtures thereof. For further discussion of the Sonogashira reaction, see Sonogashira, K.; Tohda, Y,; Hagihara, N. Tetrahedron Lett. 1975, 4467-4470; Sonogashira, K. In Comprehensive Organic Synthesis, Trost, B. M.; Fleming, L., Eds., Pergamon Press: New York, 1991, Vol. 3, chapter 2.4; Liao, Y.; Fathi, R.; Reitman, M.; Zhang, Y.; Yang, Z. Tetrahedron Lett. 2001, 42, 1815-1818; Nicolaou, K. C.; Smith, A. L. Acc. Chem. Res. 1992, 25, 497-503; Porco, J. A., Jr.; Schoenen, F. J.; Stout, T. J.; Clardy, J.; Schreiber, S. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 7410-7411; Hundertmark, T.; Littke, A. F.; Buchwald, S. L.; Fu, G. C. Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 1729-1731, and references therein; Takeuchi, R.; Tanabe, K.; Tanaka, S. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 1558-1561; Arterburn, J. B.; Rao, K. V.; Perry, M. C. Tetrahedron Lett. 2000, 41, 839-842; Gan, Z.; Roy, R. Tetrahedron Lett. 2000, 41, 1155-1159; Godt, A.; Unsal, O.; Roos, M. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 2837-2842; Wu, M. J.; Lin, C. F.; Chen, S. H. Org. Lett. 1999, 1, 767-768; Yoshimura, F.; Kawata, S.; Hirama, M. Tetrahedron Lett. 1999, 40, 8281-8286; Ma, S.; Shi, Z.; Yu, Z. Tetrahedron Lett. 1999, 40, 2393-2396; Tretyakov, E. V.; Knight, D. W.; Vasilevsky, S. F. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1999, 3713-3720; Thorand, S.; Krause, N. J. Org Chem. 1998, 63, 8551-8553; and Sonogashira, K. in Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions; Diederich, F., Stang, P. J., Wiley-VCH: New York, 1998; Chapter 5, each of which is incorporated by reference.

Step 2 of Scheme 1 involves a reaction in which a compound of the formula E is prepared by reacting a compound of the formula C with a hydrazine represented by the formula D. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrazine D is added directly to the pot containing the crude intermediate C.

In another aspect of the invention, a synthetic process for the preparation of compounds of the formula VI-VIII is provided. The inventive process uses mild reaction conditions, which provides a high substituent tolerance. The product is obtained in high yield and high purity. A process of the present invention is illustrated by Scheme II:

A solution of the pyrazole F in a polar aprotic solvent is added to a mixture of an appropriate Pd⁰ catalyst (0.05 equiv.), Bpy (0.1 equiv.), base (4 equiv) and ArI (2 equiv.) in a polar aprotic solvent and then stirred for overnight at about 50-70° C. Appropriate Pd⁰ catalysts include Pd(PPh₃)₄, Pd₂(dba)₃, 3-Pd₂(dba)₂/Pt—Bu₃, 4-Pd₂(dba)₃/dppf, and 5-Pd₂(dba)₂/bpy. The base may be selected from appropriate organic and inorganic bases including carbonate salts (for example, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and cesium carbonate) and acetate salts (for example, sodium acetate). For further discussion of conditions and other modifications see: (a) Arcadi, A.; Cacchi, S.; Del Rosario, M.; Fabrizi, G.; Marinelli, F. J. Org. Chem. 1996, 61, 9280. (b) Arcadi, A.; Cacchi, S.; Giuseppe, S. D.; Fabrizi, G.; Marinelli, F. Synlett. 2002, 453. (c) Chaplin, J. H.; Flynn, B. L. Chem. Commun. 2001, 1594. (d) Hu, Y.; Nawoschik, K.; Liao, Y.; Ma, J.; Fathi, R.; Yang, Z.; J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69, 2235-2239. (e) Flynn, B. L.; Hamel, E.; Jung, M. K. J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 2670.

In alternative embodiments, aryl pyrazoles may be prepared according to the Scheme III:

in which an aryl aldehyde H is treated with p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide in a polar solvent, followed by treatment with base and N-vinyl imidazole. The resulting pyrazole may be further modified. For example the pyrazole may be alkylated by treatment with a strong base, such as NaH, followed by reaction with an alkylating agent. Alkylating agents may have the structure alkyl-LG, wherein LG represents a leaving group. The pyrazole ring may be further modified, for example, by treatment with iodosuccinimide followed by reaction with a terminal alkyne and metal catalyst, Boronic acid and metal catalyst, alkene and metal catalyst, alkyl tin and metal catalyst, etc. to give diversified derivatives.

Compounds of the formula VII_(a) may be prepared, for example, according to Scheme IV:

Compound V may be cyclized by treatment with a metal catalyst such as Nickel, Palladium, and Rhodium in a polar acidic solvent to give compounds VII_(a).

Compounds of the formula VIII_(a) may be prepared, for example, according to Scheme V:

According to Scheme V, compound VIIIa can be synthesized by treating a 4-chloro-3-carbonyl-coumarin with a hydrazine using microwave in acetic acid conditions at about 150° C. for about 10 mins.

Dimeric compounds according to the present invention may be prepared according to the schemes provided below:

in which RG is a reactive group and RG′ is its reactive partner. For example, RG may be a leaving group, such as tosylate, and RG′ may be a nucleophile, such as an amine. Further examples of RG-RG′ pairs include: a) an activated carbonyl-containing group, such as an acyl halide or anhydride, which may be reacted with a nucleophile such as —NH₂, —OH, etc. b) iodide which may be reacted with a terminal acetylene using a Sonogashira reaction or with boronic acid using Suzuki coupling, etc. Other reactive groups/reactive partners will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled worker.

It may be advantageous to employ a temporary protecting group in achieving the final product. The phrase “protecting group” as used herein means temporary modifications of a potentially reactive functional group which protect it from undesired chemical transformations. Examples of such protecting groups include esters of carboxylic acids, silyl ethers of alcohols, and acetals and ketals of aldehydes and ketones, respectively. The field of protecting group chemistry has been reviewed (Greene, T. W.; Wuts, P. G. M. Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2^(nd) ed.; Wiley: New York, 1991).

Further guidance for the synthesis of pyrazoles may be found in, for example, J. Elguero, Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry II, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1996, v. 3, p. 1. Starting materials useful for preparing compounds of the invention and intermediates thereof may be commercially available or can be prepared by well-known synthetic methods. Other methods for synthesis of the compounds described herein and/or starting materials are either described in the art or will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan. (see, e.g., Harrison et al., “Compendium of Synthetic Organic Methods”, Vols. 1-8 (John Wiley and Sons, 1971-1996); “Beilstein Handbook of Organic Chemistry,” Beilstein Institute of Organic Chemistry, Frankfurt, Germany; Feiser et al., “Reagents for Organic Synthesis,” Volumes 1-21, Wiley Interscience; Trost et al., “Comprehensive Organic Synthesis,” Pergamon Press, 1991; “Theilheimer's Synthetic Methods of Organic Chemistry,” Volumes 1-45, Karger, 1991; March, “Advanced Organic Chemistry,” Wiley Interscience, 1991; Larock “Comprehensive Organic Transformations,” VCH Publishers, 1989; Paquette, “Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis,” 3d Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1995). Alternatives to the reagents and conditions may be found in the references provided above and in other compendiums well known to the skilled artisan. Accordingly, the synthetic methods and strategies presented herein are illustrative rather than comprehensive.

The compounds and processes disclosed herein are useful in the production of a library of pyrazole derivatives for biological screening. Derivatives of pyrazole posses a range of biological activities. Pryrazole-based compounds have shown efficacy, for example, as antivirals. Particularly, the compounds of the present invention may be used to prevent or treat infection with HCV.

The identification of inhibitors of HCV replication and/or proliferation has been facilitated by the development of a cell based system to study HCV replication and assay for HCV inhibitors. Inhibition of HCV replication may be performed using the HCV Replicon Assay developed in the laboratories of Bartenschlager (Lohman et al, Science 285, 110-113, 1999) and Rice (Blight et al, Science 290, 1972-1974, 2000). The assay is performed using the Huh-Luc-Neo cell line (Lohman et al, Science 285, 110-113, 1999). Huh-Luc-Neo cells are a human hepatoma cell line (Huh-7) stably expressing a bi-cistronic subgenomic replicon containing the HCV IRES in which the structural proteins of HCV had been deleted and replaced by a construct containing sequences coding for the firefly luciferase reporter gene, the neomycin selectable marker and the EMCV IRES to direct expression of a truncated HCV genome expressing the structural proteins NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B. HCV targets through which inhibitors could act to inhibit replication include the NS3 protease, the helicase/ATPase, NS5A, the NS5B-RNA dependent RNA polymerase, and the HCV IRES.

Expression of HCV IRES driven luciferase reporter activity and HCV RNA is measured to obtain indirect and direct measures of replication of HCV RNA respectively. Inhibitors of HCV replication and/or proliferation are determined by initially identifying molecules that inhibit expression of the HCV IRES driven luciferase reporter in this HCV Replicon Luciferase Assay. Cell viability assays and control cell based luciferase assays are then run on hits identified in the HCV Replicon Luciferase Assay to eliminate cytoxic compounds and non-specific compounds which act by inhibiting the luciferase enzyme. Validated inhibitors of HCV replication and/or proliferation are identified by evaluating HCV Replicon Luciferase hits that are specific and non-cytoxic and demonstrating that these compounds inhibit expression of HCV RNA using a quantitative PCR based approach (Taqman) using primers and probes specific for HCV RNA (HCV Replicon RNA Assay).

The HCV Replicon Assay may be used to predict compound efficacy in treatment and/or prevention of HCV infection as well as inhibition of HCV replication and/or proliferation. The HCV Replicon encompasses a multiplicity of viral and host targets through which an inhibitor could work to inhibit HCV Replication. Viral targets expressed in the HCV Replicon include the HCV IRES (for translation), NS3 Protease, the HCV Helicase/ATPase, NS5A phosphorylation, and the NS5B polymerase. Without being limited to theory, it is believed that the compounds of the present invention inhibit HCV replication. The compounds of the invention may inhibit replication as by acting on the IRES, NS3 protease, NS5B polymerase, Helicase/ATPase, or NS5A phosphorylation.

Thus, in another embodiment, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an anti-HCV effective amount of a compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or auxiliary agent. As used herein, the terms “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” and “hydrates” refer to those salts and hydrated forms of the compound that would favorably affect the physical or pharmacokinetic properties of the compound, such as solubility, palatability, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. Other factors, more practical in nature, which those skilled in the art may take into account in the selection include the cost of the raw materials, ease of crystallization, yield, stability, solubility, hygroscopicity and flowability of the resulting bulk drug.

The invention also provides a method of treating HCV infection in a mammal, preferable a human, by administering to the mammal an effective amount of a compound of the present invention, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, or a composition as described above. The compounds of the invention may be administered alone or may be administered in combination with other approved therapeutics, such as: an interferon (pegylated or not), preferably α-interferon, ribavirin, or interferon and ribavirin, or one or more other anti-HCV agent, such as an HCV protease inhibitor, HCV polymerase inhibitor, HCV IRES inhibitor, HCV Helicase and/or ATPase inhibitor, NS5A phosphorylation inhibitor, HCV NS2 inhibitor, or other HCV life cycle inhibitor. Combination therapies with may include a compound of the invention with multiple different inhibitors of HCV life cycle (immunomodulatory agents, Toll Like Receptor modulators, antisense therapeutics etc.). The agents that comprise a combination therapy may be administered together or separately, e.g., prior to, concurrently with or following the administration of the compound of the invention or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These additional agents may be combined with the compounds of this invention to create a single pharmaceutical dosage form. Alternatively these additional agents may be separately administered to the patient as part of a multiple dosage form, for example, using a kit. Such additional agents may be administered to the patient prior to, concurrently with, or following the administration of wherein a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The compounds of the present invention may be employed in solid or liquid form including, for example, amorphous powder or crystalline form, in solution or in suspension. They may be administered in numerous different ways, such as orally, parenterally, topically, transdermally or by inhalation. Oral administration or administration by injection is preferred. The choice of carrier and the content of active compound in the carrier are generally determined in accordance with the solubility and chemical properties of the desired product, the particular mode of administration and well established pharmaceutical practice. The pharmaceutical composition of this invention may contain any conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, adjuvants or vehicles. In some cases, the pH of the formulation may be adjusted with pharmaceutically acceptable acids, bases or buffers to enhance the stability of the formulated compound or its delivery form. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intrasynovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, and intralesional injection or infusion techniques.

Examples of liquid carriers include syrups, peanut oil, olive oil, water, saline and the like. For parenteral administration, emulsions, suspensions or solutions of the compounds according to the invention in vegetable oil, for example sesame oil, groundnut oil or olive oil, or aqueous-organic solutions such as water and propylene glycol, injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate, as well as sterile aqueous solutions of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, may be used. Injectable forms must be fluid to the extent they can be easily syringed, and proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by use of agents delaying absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin. The pharmaceutical composition may be in the form of a sterile injectable preparation, for example, as a sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspension. This suspension may be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents (such as, for example Tween 80) and suspending agents.

The pharmaceutical composition of this invention may be orally administered in any orally acceptable dosage form including, but not limited to, capsules, tablets, and aqueous suspensions and solutions. Compounds of the invention may be enclosed in hard or soft shell gelatin capsules, or compressed into tablets. Examples of oral liquid dosage forms include solutions, suspensions, syrups, emulsions, soft gelatin capsules and the like. Carriers for oral use (solid or liquid) may include time delay materials known in the art, such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate alone or with a wax. To prepare a capsule, it may be advantageous to use lactose and a liquid carrier, such as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols.

Compositions and dosage forms prepared in accordance with the present invention optionally may contain lactose, sodium citrate, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate and disintegrating agents such as starch, alginic acids and certain complex silica gels combined with lubricants such as magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate and talc may be used for preparing tablets, capsules and the like. Various other materials may be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the dosage unit. For instance, tablets, and capsules may be coated with shellac, sugar or both. When aqueous suspensions are used they may contain emulsifying agents or agents which facilitate suspension. Diluents such as sucrose, ethanol, polyols such as polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol, and mixtures thereof also may be used. In addition, the active compound may be incorporated into sustained-release preparations and formulations. If desired, certain sweetening and/or flavoring and/or coloring agents may be added. Other suitable vehicles or carriers for the above noted formulations and compositions can be found in standard pharmaceutical texts, e.g. in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences”, The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19.sup.th Ed. Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., (1995).

When these compounds or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are formulated together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the resulting composition may be administered in vivo to mammals, such as man, to treat or prevent HCV virus infection. Such treatment may also be achieved using a compound of this invention in combination with other anti-viral agents which include, but are not limited to a-interferon and ribavirin. The additional agents may be combined with compounds of this invention to create a single dosage form. Alternatively these additional agents may be separately administered to a mammal as part of a multiple dosage form.

EXAMPLES General Methods

Reaction solvents were commercially purchased from Aldrich or Acros without further purification and reagents were used as received. Reaction was monitored by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on 0.25 mm precoated Merck Silica Gel 60 F₂₅₄, visualizing with ultraviolet light. Flash column chromatography was performed on Merck Silica Gel 60 (230-400 mesh) using reagent grade hexanes, dichloromethane, and ACS grade ethyl acetate, and methanol. LC-MS was performed on Water Separation. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Unity INPVA 500 MHz spectrometer, CDCl₃ as solvent, TMS as internal reference. ¹H-¹H coupling are assumed to be first order, and peak multiplicity is reported as a s (single), d (doublet), t (triplet), q (quartet), m (multiplet), or b (broad).

Example 1 General Procedure for Synthesis of Pyrazole 8, 9D˜20D

A mixture of iodochromone A (0.5 mmol), acetylene B (0.6 mmol), copper (I) iodide (0.01 mmol), and dichloribis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0.005 mmol) in CH₃CN (6 ml) was added with DIEPA (2 mmol) and then stirred for 5 h at room temperature. The reaction mixture was treated with hydrazine C (1 mmol) and stirred at RT overnight. After evaporation, the crude product was directly purified by a flash column chromatography to give the pure product.

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 8 in 92% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.70 (s, 1H), 8.58 (dd, J=8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.55 (dd, J=7.5, 1.5 Hz, 2H), 7.36 (m, 3H), 7.26 (m, 1H), 7.05 (dd, J=8.5, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 6.97 (td, J=7.5, 1.5 Hz), 3.97 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 155.9, 150.4, 134.5, 131.2, 129.7, 128.4, 128.2, 127.1, 123.4, 119.1, 116.9, 116.7, 100.8, 92.6, 81.4, 39.3. LC-MS: m/z, 275 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 9D in 72% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.71 (s, 1H), 8.58 (dd, J=8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (s, 1H), 7.42 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.25 (m, 1H), 7.17 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (dd, J=8.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.94 (td, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz), 3.97 (s, 3H), 2.37 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 155.9, 150.3, 138.4, 134.4, 131.1, 129.6, 129.2, 127.1, 120.3, 119.1, 116.9, 116.7, 100.9, 92.7, 80.7, 39.2, 21.5. LC-MS: m/z, 289 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 10D in 78% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.72 (s, 1H), 8.57 (dd, J=7.5, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (s, 1H), 7.46 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 2H), 7.23 (td, J=8.5, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.94 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.89 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 2H), 3.91 (s, 3H), 3.82 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 159.6, 155.9, 150.2, 134.3, 132.7, 129.6, 127.1, 119.0, 116.9, 116.8, 115.5, 114.1, 101.1, 92.5, 79.9, 55.3, 39.2.

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 11D in 63% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.64 (s, 1H), 8.50 (dd, J=7.5, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (s, 1H), 7.45 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 2H), 7.34 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 2H), 7.26 (td, J=8.5, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.04 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.96 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 3.96 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 156.0, 150.6, 134.5, 134.2, 132.4, 129.8, 128.8, 127.0, 121.9, 119.1, 117.0, 116.6, 100.5, 91.5, 82.4, 39.3; LC-MS: m/z, 309 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 12D in 54% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.64 (s, 1H), 8.40 (dd, J=8.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 7.54 (s, 1H), 7.24 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.02 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 2.67 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 2.57 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.99 (m, 2H); ¹³C NMR: δ 155.8, 150.2, 134.6, 129.7, 126.7, 119.1, 118.9, 117.0, 116.7, 100.6, 90.3, 74.3, 39.2, 24.6, 18.8, 16.3; LC-MS: m/z, 264 (M⁺−1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=1/1) gave 13D in 74% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.64 (s, 1H), 8.44 (dd, J=8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (s, 1H), 7.23 (t, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.02 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 4.38 (s, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 3.47 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 155.9, 150.5, 135.1, 129.7, 127.0, 119.0, 117.0, 116.5, 100.1, 88.6, 78.4, 60.6, 57.7, 39.2; LC-MS: m/z, 242 (M+).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=3/1) gave 14D in 67% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.63 (s, 1H), 8.29 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (s, 1H), 7.48 (m, 2H), 7.33 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.20 (m, 2H), 7.00 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.77 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 3.91 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 155.8, 150.5, 135.3, 134.8, 130.0, 129.6, 129.0, 127.0, 126.9, 119.1, 116.8, 116.5, 100.3, 88.6, 75.4, 39.2, 23.9.

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=1/1) gave 15D in 84% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.65 (s, 1H), 8.48 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (s, 1H), 7.23 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.88 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 2.35 (bs, 1H), 2.05 (m, 2H), 1.77-1.57 (bm, 8H); ¹³C NMR: δ 155.8, 150.3, 134.7, 129.6, 127.0, 118.8, 116.9, 116.6, 100.3, 96.3, 76.2, 69.4, 39.9, 39.1, 25.2, 23.3; LC-MS: m/z, 297 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=1/1) gave 16D in 82% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.61 (s, 1H), 8.58 (dd, J=8.5, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (s, 1H), 7.43 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.28 (td, J=8.5, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.18 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.04 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.96 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 4.30 (t, J=5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.06 (t, J=5.0 Hz, 2H), 2.39 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 155.8, 150.8, 138.5, 134.9, 131.2, 129.8, 129.2, 127.3, 120.2, 119.2, 116.9, 116.7, 101.1, 92.9, 80.5, 61.2, 54.6, 21.5; LC-MS: m/z, 319 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=3/1) gave 17D in 43% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.71 (s, 1H), 8.58 (dd, J=8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (s, 1H), 7.38 (bm, 5H), 7.27 (m, 3H), 7.16 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.03 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.94 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 5.31 (s, 2H), 2.37 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 156.0, 150.4, 138.4, 134.9, 133.7, 131.1, 129.7, 129.2, 129.1, 128.7, 128.0, 127.2, 120.2, 119.1, 116.9, 116.7, 101.3, 92.9, 80.6, 56.4, 21.5.

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=3/1) gave 18D in 57% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.49 (s, 1H), 8.43 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.59 (s, 1H), 7.43 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.17 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.05 (d, J=8.0, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 2.37 (s, 3H), 2.34 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 153.7, 150.4, 138.3, 134.2, 130.9, 130.3, 129.2, 127.9, 127.5, 120.4, 116.6, 116.3, 100.9, 92.8, 81.0, 39.2, 21.5, 20.8.

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 19D in 67% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 10.69 (s, 1H), 8.70 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.62 (s, 1H), 7.49 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.19 (m, 3H), 6.97 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.93 (s, 3H), 2.37 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 154.6, 149.0, 138.5, 134.1, 131.0, 129.3, 129.2, 126.6, 123.8, 120.0, 118.2, 117.8, 101.4, 93.7, 80.2, 39.3, 21.5.

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 20D in 90% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 11.63 (s, 1H), 9.70 (s, 1H), 8.15 (dd, J=9.0, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (s, 1H), 7.58 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.21 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.06 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 2.38 (s, 3H); ³C NMR: δ 161.7, 148.1, 141.8, 138.8, 134.5, 131.4, 129.3, 125.3, 123.3, 119.7, 117.5, 116.7, 102.0, 94.8, 79.2, 39.4, 21.5.

Example 2 General Procedure for Synthesis of Pyrazolo[3,4]benzopyran 1E˜12E

To a mixture of Pd₂(dba)₃ (0.01 mmol), Bpy (0.02 mmol), K₂CO₃ (0.8 mmol) and ArI (0.4 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) was added with the DMF (1 mL) solution of Pyrazole D (0.2 mmol) and then stirred for overnight at 60° C. The reaction mixture was added with aq. NH₄Cl (10 ml) and then extracted with EtOAc (3×20 mL). The organic phase was washed by H₂O, brine and then dried over Na₂SO₄. After evaporation, the crude product was directly purified by a flash column chromatography to give the pure product.

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=1/1) gave 1E in 74% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 8.04 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.78 (dd, J=8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.33 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H) 7.25 (td, J=9.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.12 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.06 (m, 2H), 5.93 (s, 1H), 3.73 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 197.9, 152.5, 146.6, 143.5, 141.1, 136.1, 135.9, 135.8, 131.8, 129.5, 129.4, 129.3, 128.6, 128.0, 122.6, 121.8, 116.3, 116.0, 114.2, 111.7, 39.4, 26.7, 21.2; LC-MS: m/z, 407 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 2E in 78% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 7.77 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.42 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 7.20 (bm, 5H) 7.10 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.01 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 5.75 (s, 1H), 3.67 (s, 3H), 2.42 (s, 3H), 2.33 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 152.6, 143.3, 140.8, 138.0, 136.4, 135.3, 131.1, 130.2, 129.3, 129.2, 128.4, 128.3, 122.3, 121.6, 116.2, 114.8, 112.2, 39.1, 21.4, 21.14; LC-MS: m/z, 379 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 3E in 74% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 7.78 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.38 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.24 (m, 1H) 7.12 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.05 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.96 (dd, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.84 (s, 1H), 5.76 (s, 1H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 2.34 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 160.6, 152.6, 143.3, 142.4, 140.9, 136.0, 135.5, 130.4, 129.4, 129.1, 128.5, 128.4, 123.7, 122.4, 121.7, 116.2, 116.1, 116.1, 114.7, 113.6, 112.1, 55.3, 39.2, 21.1; LC-MS: m/z, 395 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 4E in 72% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 7.79 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.72 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.47 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.34 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.25 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 1H), 7.13 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.06 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 5.79 (s, 1H), 3.73 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 152.4, 145.2, 143.5, 141.3, 135.8, 132.0, 129.5, 129.2, 128.6, 127.9, 126.4, 126.3, 122.6, 121.8, 116.2, 115.9, 113.8, 111.6, 39.3, 21.2; LC-MS: m/z, 433 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 5E in 80% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 7.78 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (m, 4H), 7.32 (s, 1H), 7.23 (m, 2H), 7.13 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 5.82 (s, 1H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 2.34 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 152.4, 143.4, 143.0, 141.3, 135.8, 135.7, 135.1, 131.5, 130.7, 129.7, 129.4, 129.2, 128.6, 128.1, 127.7, 122.5, 121.7, 116.2, 116.0, 113.7, 111.7, 39.3, 21.2; LC-MS: m/z, 399 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 6E in 62% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 7.79 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.35 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.24 (t, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.13 (m, 3H), 7.04 (m, 3H), 5.92 (s, 1H), 3.77 (s, 3H), 2.34 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 152.4, 152.0 (d, J=12.8 Hz), 150.9 (d, J=12.8 Hz), 149.9 (d, J=12.8 Hz), 148.9 (d, J=12.3 Hz), 143.4, 141.4, 138.0 (t, J=5.0 Hz), 135.8, 135.7, 129.5, 129.0, 128.6, 127.7, 127.7 (t, J=3.0 Hz), 122.6, 121.7, 120.3 (d, J=15.5 Hz), 118.2 (d, J=16.5 Hz), 116.2, 115.9, 113.0, 111.6, 39.3, 21.1; LC-MS: m/z, 401 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=3/1) gave 7E in 78% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 8.06 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.79 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.38 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.25 (t, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.06 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 6.86 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 5.92 (s, 1H), 3.82 (s, 3H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 197.9, 157.8, 152.5, 146.7, 143.4, 140.6, 136.1, 131.8, 131.4, 130.6, 129.5, 129.4, 127.9, 122.6, 121.8, 116.2, 116.0, 113.9, 113.3, 111.7, 55.2, 39.4, 26.7; LC-MS: m/z, 423 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=3/1) gave 8E in 50% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 8.06 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.81 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.37 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.28 (m, 2H), 7.09 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.05 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 5.95 (s, 1H), 3.74 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 197.7, 152.2, 146.0, 143.5, 142.0, 137.3, 136.3, 131.8, 131.6, 130.7, 129.6, 129.5, 128.2, 128.0, 122.8, 121.9, 116.2, 115.9, 112.9, 111.3, 39.4, 26.7; LC-MS: m/z, 427 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 9E in 68% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 8.02 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.75 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.36 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.26 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.17 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.04 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.07 (s, 1H), 3.70 (s, 3H), 2.80 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 2.65 (s, 3H), 2.42 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.77 (m, 2H); ¹³C NMR: δ 197.7, 152.6, 145.8, 143.1, 141.6, 136.2, 130.2, 129.6, 129.4, 127.5, 122.5, 121.8, 119.9, 116.1, 115.8, 111.8, 110.6, 39.3, 30.3, 26.7, 23.8, 16.6; LC-MS: m/z, 384 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 10E in 52% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 8.04 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.60 (s, 1H), 7.44 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.33 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.11 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.05 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.94 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 5.91 (s, 1H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 2.34 (s, 3H), 2.33 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 197.9, 150.5, 146.8, 143.6, 141.3, 136.0, 136.0, 135.7, 132.0, 131.8, 130.2, 129.4, 129.3, 128.6, 128.5, 128.0, 121.9, 115.9, 115.5, 113.9, 111.7, 39.3, 26.7, 21.2, 20.7; LC-MS: m/z, 421 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave 11E in 91% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 8.05 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.76 (s, 1H), 7.44 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.31 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.18 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.12 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 6.96 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 5.92 (s, 1H), 3.73 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 197.8, 150.9, 146.3, 142.4, 140.6, 136.2, 136.1, 135.6, 131.6, 129.4, 129.3, 129.2, 128.6, 128.1, 127.7, 121.5, 117.5, 117.4, 114.8, 111.8, 39.4, 26.7, 21.2; LC-MS: m/z, 441 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=1/1) gave 12E in 81% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 8.66 (s, 1H), 8.12 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.45 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 7.29 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.15 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.07 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 5.98 (s, 1H), 3.76 (s, 3H), 2.69 (s, 3H), 2.37 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR: δ 197.7, 156.7, 145.6, 142.9, 141.4, 140.0, 136.7, 136.4, 135.1, 131.4, 129.5, 129.4, 128.8, 128.2, 124.9, 117.9, 116.8, 116.8, 111.6, 39.6, 26.7, 21.2; LC-MS: m/z, 452 (M+1).

Example 3

Procedure for Synthesis of 2.

The aldehyde 1 (1.5 mmol) was added to a solution of p-Toluenesulfonyl hydrazide (1.5 mmol) in acetonitrile (250 mL). After the mixture was stirred for 3 h at room temperature, a solution of 5 N NaOH (1.5 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for a further 20 min. The N-vinylimidazole (7.5 mmol) was added, and the mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 2 days. The volatiles were evaporated under reduced pressure, and the residue was dissolved in a 1:1 mixture of H₂O-EtOAc (70 mL). The organic layer was separated and dried over Na₂SO₄. After filtration and removal of the solvent under reduced pressure, the crude material was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel to give pure product 2 in 40% yield.

¹H NMR: δ 7.71 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 7.69 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 7.59 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.47 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.47 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H). LC-MS: (4.01 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 189.05. Found: 190.08.

Procedure for Synthesis of 3 and 4.

To the suspension of NaH (1.15 mmol) in dry THF (2 mL), 2 (0.53 mmol) in THF (3 mL) was added dropwise. After added up, the given mixture was stirred for 20 min at room temperature and then iodomethane (2.57 mmol) was added slowly. Stirred overnight, the reaction was quenched with H₂O and extracted with EtOAc. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by flash chromatography to afford 3 (49% yield) and 4 (22% yield).

3: ¹H NMR: δ 7.73 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 7.69 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 7.57 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.43 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.39 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 6.38 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 3.94 (s, 3H). LC-MS: (4.44 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 203.07. Found: 204.06.

4: ¹H NMR: δ 8.08 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.64 (t, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.54 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.25 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 3.70 (s, 3H). LC-MS: (4.40 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 203.07. Found: 204.06.

Example 4

General Procedure for Synthesis of 5.

The mixture of 3 (2.94 mmol) and N-Iodosuccinimide (4.41 mmol) in DMF (5.0 mL) was stirred for 3 days at room temperature. The DMF was removed in vacuo, the residue was dissolved in EtOAc and washed with Na₂SO₃, brine and dried over MgSO₄. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (eluent: EtOAc/Petroleum=1:3) to give 5 in 84% yield.

¹H NMR: δ 7.99 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.65 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.55 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.55 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.49 (s, 1H), 3.94 (s, 3H). LC-MS: (4.63 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 328.97. Found: 329.93.

General Procedure for Synthesis of 6.

To a degassed solution of 5 (0.15 mmol), CuI (0.003 mmol) and Et₃N (0.6 mmol) in dry benzene (1 mL), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.015 mmol) and 3,3-Dimethyl-1-butyne (0.6 mmol) was added sequentially at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was filtered over Celite and washed with EtOAc. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (eluent: EtOAc/petroleum ether=1:3) to give 6 in 88% yield.

¹H NMR: δ 7.91 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.61 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.49 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (s, 1H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 1.22 (s, 9H). LC-MS: (5.45 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 283.13. Found: 284.07.

Example 5

Procedure for Synthesis of 7.

7 was synthesized in 80% yield by similar procedure as of 5.

¹H NMR: δ 8.18 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.69 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (s, 1H), 7.38 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.72 (s, 3H). LC-MS: (4.62 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 328.97. Found: 329.93.

Procedure for Synthesis of 8A.

8A was synthesized in 86% yield by similar procedure as of 6.

¹H NMR: δ 8.11 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.11 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.51 (s, 1H), 7.44 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H) 3.69 (s, 3H), 1.07 (s, 9H). LC-MS: (5.45 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 283.13. Found: 284.07.

Example 6

General Procedure for Synthesis of 8B.

A solution of 8A (0.16 mmol), zinc dust (0.8 mmol) and CaSO₄ (0.8 mmol) in 4:1 ethanol/H₂O (2 mL) was refluxed for 3 h. The reaction mixture was filtered over Celite and washed with 4:1 ethanol/H₂O. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (eluent: EtOAc:Petroleum ether=1:3) to afford pure product 8B in 92% yield.

¹H NMR: δ 7.59 (s, 1H), 7.23 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 1H), 7.11 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.82 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 1H), 6.79 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 3.80 (br, 2H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 1.18 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR: δ 145.418, 142.861, 141.149, 131.373, 130.602, 118.385, 116.133, 114.578, 103.843, 101.117, 70.265, 37.714, 31.199, 28.229. LC-MS: (5.12 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 253.16. Found: 254.14.

Example 7

Procedure for Synthesis of 9.

A solution of 6 (0.06 mmol) in EtOH (1 mL) was added to a solution of zinc dust (3.07 mmol) and acetic acid (1.5 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred overnight under reflux. The reaction mixture was filtered over Celite and washed with EtOAc. The filtrate was adjusted to pH 7 with 5% NaHCO₃, washed with H₂O, dried over Na₂SO₄ and taken to dryness under reduced pressure. The crude was purified flash chromatography (eluent: EtOAc/Petroleum=1:3) to give 9 in 32% yield.

¹H NMR: δ 8.44 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.02 (s, 1H), 7.65 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.55 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 4.28 (s, 3H), 3.0 (s, 2H), 1.08 (s, 9H). LC-MS: (3.56 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 253.16. Found: 254.20.

Example 10

Procedure for Synthesis of 10.

Compound 10 was synthesized in 89% yield by similar procedure as of 8B.

¹H NMR: δ 8.22 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 7.48 (s, 1H), 7.13 (t, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.75 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.74 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 5.27 (br, 1H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 1.31 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR: δ 151.464, 145.140, 133.680, 129.608, 128.879, 116.891, 116.622, 116.327, 102.262, 100.998, 71.635, 39.346, 31.121, 28.462. LC-MS: (4.42 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 253.16. Found: 254.20.

Example 11

General Procedure for Synthesis of 12.

The mixture of 11 and R₁R₂NH (5 equiv.) was heated to 80° C. in Pyridine overnight. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (eluent: EtOAc/Petroleum ether=1:3) to give 12 as yellow solid.

99% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 9.40 (s, 1H), 8.59 (br, 1H), 8.10 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (s, 1H), 6.62 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.05-5.90 (m, 1H), 5.40-5.20 (m, 2H), 3.90 (s, 3H), 1.36 (s, 9H). LC-MS: (4.01 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 338.17. Found: 339.20.

Example 12

Procedure for Synthesis of 13 and 14.

A mixture of 12 (0.08 mmol), 10% Pd/C and additives (CF₃SO₃H or BF₃-Et₂O, 0.08 mmol)) in absolute ethanol (1 mL) was heated to 95° C. for 1.5 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a Celite pad and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by plate chromatography (eluent: EtOAc/Petroleum ether=1:1) to give 13 (31% yield) and 14 (46% yield).

13: ¹H NMR: δ 9.36 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 8.44 (dd, J=9.0, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 8.16 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 4.32 (s, 3H), 3.02 (s, 2H), 1.18 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR: δ 161.488, 148.072, 145.227, 130.675, 127.666, 127.502, 122.625, 119.168, 118.906, 118.734, 51.028, 40.920, 33.322, 30.626. LC-MS: (3.80 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 298.14. Found: 299.19.

14: ¹H NMR: δ 11.01 (s, 1H), 9.19 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 8.17 (dd, J=9.0, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (s, 1H), 7.08 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 4.04 (s, 3H), 2.70 (s, 2H), 1.09 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR: δ 161.836, 148.921, 140.550, 136.261, 127.402, 126.121, 123.207, 118.137, 117.177, 54.454, 39.803, 32.097, 30.403. LC-MS: (3.81 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 317.14. Found: 318.15.

Example 13

Procedure for Synthesis of 15.

To a degassed solution of 12 (19.5 mmol) and N,N′-dimethylbarbituric acid (NDMBA, 39.0 mmol) in dry CH₂Cl₂ (200 mL), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (3.9 mmol) was added quickly and the reaction mixture was heated to 35° C. and stirred overnight. After cooling, the CH₂Cl₂ was removed under vacuum and the residue was dissolved in EtOAc. The formed solution was washed with saturated Na₂CO₃, H₂O and brine and dried over Na₂SO₄. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by flash chromatography (eluent: EtOAc/petroleum ether=1:3) to give 15 in 62% yield.

15: ¹H NMR: δ 9.41 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 8.02 (dd, J=9.0, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.55 (s, 1H), 6.68 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 6.35 (br, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 1.36 (s, 9H). LC-MS: (5.58 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 298.14. Found: 299.19.

Procedure for Synthesis of 16.

16 was synthesized in 78% yield by similar procedure as of 8B.

¹H NMR: δ 7.62 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.43 (s, 1H), 6.65 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.59 (dd, J=8.0, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 1.56 (br, 4H), 1.32 (s, 9H). LC-MS: (3.35 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 268.17. Found: 269.20.

Example 14

General Procedure for Synthesis of 17.

To the solution of 15 (0.1 mmol) and pyridine (0.3 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (1.0 mL), sulfonyl chloride (0.3 mmol) was added slowly at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight. After quenching with H₂O, the reaction was extracted with EtOAc and dried over Na₂SO₄. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by plate chromatography (eluent: EtOAc/Petroleum ether=1:2) to give pure compound 17.

73% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 11.54 (s, 1H), 9.42 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.06 (dd, J=8.0, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (AABB, J=8.5, 7.0 Hz, 4H), 7.57 (s, 1H), 7.22 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 4.0 (s, 3H), 2.37 (s, 3H), 1.34 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR: δ 147.391, 144.473, 142.903, 141.177, 136.376, 134.908, 129.997, 127.444, 124.151, 124.060, 120.508, 118.494, 103.840, 103.690, 69.584, 39.816, 31.067, 28.579, 23.902, 21.796. LC-MS: (6.50 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 452.15. Found: 453.11.

Example 15

General Procedure for Synthesis of 18 and 19.

To the suspension of 15 (0.1 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (0.5 mmol) in acetone (1.0 mL), benzyl bromide (0.3 mmol) was added at room temperature. The reaction mixture was sealed and raised to 65° C. and stirred overnight. After cooled, the reaction mixture was filtered over Celite and washed with EtOAc. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by plate chromatography on silica gel (eluent: EtOAc/Petrpleum ether=1:3) to give pure compound 18 and 19 (in some cases, only compound 18 was isolated).

87% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 9.45 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.90 (t, J=4.5 Hz, 1H), 8.07 (dd, J=9.5, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (s, 1H), 6.99 (s, 2H), 6.94 (s, 1H), 6.62 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (d, J=5.0 Hz, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 2.32 (s, 6H), 1.37 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR: δ 151.253, 149.261, 138.623, 138.071, 136.796, 134.385, 129.291, 125.763, 125.477, 124.889, 115.003, 109.970, 103.121, 102.835, 70.417, 47.593, 39.432, 31.205, 28.612, 21.581. LC-MS: (6.75 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 416.22. Found: 417.19.

7% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 8.41 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 8.17 (dd, J=8.5, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (s, 1H), 6.89 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.86 (s, 2H), 6.77 (s, 4H), 4.15 (s, 4H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 12H), 1.19 (s, 9H). LC-MS: (6.87 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 534.30. Found: 535.27.

Example 16

General Procedure for Synthesis of 20.

To the solution of 15 (0.1 mmol) and DMAP (0.1 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (1.0 mL), benzoyl chloride (0.3 mmol) was added slowly at 0° C. The reaction mixture was raised to room temperature and stirred overnight. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by plate chromatography (eluent: EtOAc/Petroleum ether=1:3) to give pure compound 20.

95% yield. ¹H NMR: δ 12.25 (s, 1H), 9.38 (d, J=3.0 Hz, 1H), 8.98 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 8.45-8.3 (m, 1H), 8.24 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 1H), 7.9-7.75 (m, 1H), 7.60 (s, 1H), 7.34 (t, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 1.34 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR: δ 162.947, 161.162, 160.907, 147.737, 143.262, 141.331, 134.931, 130.954 (m), 129.722 (m), 128.034 (q), 124.293, 124.142, 121.591, 121.464, 117.626, 117.426, 103.898, 103.625, 69.525, 39.347, 31.065, 28.551. LC-MS: (6.85 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 488.15. Found: 489.06.

Example 17 Preparation of Pyrazole Dimers

A mixture of iodochromone A (0.5 mmol), acetylene B (0.2 mmol), Copper (I) iodide (0.01 mmol), and dichloribis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0.005 mmol) in CH₃CN (6 ml) was added with DIEPA (2 mmol) and then stirred for 5 h at room temperature. The reaction mixture was treated with methyl hydrazine (1 mmol) and stirred at RT overnight. After evaporation, the crude product was directly purified by a flash column chromatography to give the pure product.

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave VQ25048. ¹H NMR: δ 10.73 (s, 2H), 8.54 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.46 (s, 2H), 7.21 (m, 2H), 7.02 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 6.92 (m, 2H), 3.87 (s, 6H), 2.56 (m, 4H), 1.86 (m, 4H); LC-MS: m/z, 451 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave VQ25049. ¹H NMR: δ 11.64 (s, 2H), 9.56 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 2H), 8.03 (dd, J=3.0, 9.0 Hz, 2H), 7.58 (s, 2H), 7.00 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 2H), 3.94 (s, 6H), 2.64 (m, 4H), 1.95 (m, 4H); LC-MS: m/z, 541 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave VQ25050. ¹H NMR: δ 10.52 (s, 2H), 8.32 (s, 2H), 7.45 (s, 2H), 7.02 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 6.91 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 3.89 (s, 6H), 2.56 (m, 4H), 2.97 (s, 6H), 1.89 (m, 4H); LC-MS: m/z, 479 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave VQ25052. ¹H NMR: δ 10.72 (s, 2H), 8.56 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 2H), 7.48 (s, 2H), 7.16 (dd, J=2.5, 8.5 Hz, 2H), 6.93 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 3.90 (s, 6H), 2.58 (m, 4H), 1.92 (m, 4H); LC-MS: m/z, 519 (M⁺).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave VQ25053. ¹H NMR: δ 10.75 (s, 2H), 8.69 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 2H), 7.48 (s, 2H), 7.29 (dd, J=2.0, 7.5 Hz, 2H), 6.88 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 3.90 (s, 6H), 2.59 (m, 4H), 1.94 (m, 4H); LC-MS: m/z, 609 (M+1).

Purification by a flash chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc=2/1) gave VQ25055. ¹H NMR: δ 10.60 (s, 2H), 8.53 (s, 2H), 7.47 (s, 2H), 6.87 (s, 2H), 3.89 (s, 6H), 2.58 (m, 4H), 2.34 (s, 6H), 1.93 (m, 4H); LC-MS: m/z, 547 (M+).

Example 18 General Procedure for Synthesis of Dimers

A mixture of A (0.11 mmol), B (0.055 mmol) and pyridine (1.0 mL) in a sealed tube was heated to 100° C. and stirred overnight. After removal of the solvent, the residue was purified by column chromatography (eluent: MeOH:CH₂Cl₂=1:100) to give the pure product.

¹H NMR: δ 9.42 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.73 (br, 2H), 8.14 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.43 (s, 2H), 6.75 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 3.75-3.68 (m, 4H), 3.54 (s, 6H), 1.38 (s, 18H). LC-MS: (6.98 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 622.30. Found: 623.26.

¹H NMR: δ 9.41 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.73 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 8.11 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.49 (s, 2H), 6.68 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 3.70 (s, 6H), 3.60-3.48 (m, 4H), 2.20-2.10 (m, 2H), 1.38 (s, 18H). LC-MS: (7.08 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 636.32. Found: 637.29.

¹H NMR: δ 9.41 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.49 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 8.12 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.51 (s, 2H), 6.65 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 3.80 (s, 6H), 3.45-3.35 (m, 4H), 1.98-1.90 (m, 4H), 1.36 (s, 18H). LC-MS: (7.18 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 650.33. Found: 651.28.

¹H NMR: δ 9.40 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.44 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 8.12 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.50 (s, 2H), 6.64 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 3.78 (s, 6H), 3.40-3.30 (m, 4H), 1.90-1.75 (m, 4H), 1.72-1.68 (m, 2H), 1.38 (s, 18H). LC-MS: (7.34 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 664.35. Found: 665.33.

¹H NMR: δ 9.43 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.80 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 8.08 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.46 (s, 2H), 6.68 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 3.60 (s, 6H), 3.35 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 4H), 1.38 (s, 18H), 1.24 (s, 6H). LC-MS: (7.37 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 636.35. Found: 665.41.

¹H NMR: δ 9.38 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.63 (br, 2H), 8.10 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.54 (s, 2H), 6.72 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 4.35-4.25 (m, 2H), 3.82 (s, 6H), 3.65-3.48 (m, 4H), 1.35 (s, 18H). LC-MS: (6.547 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 652.31. Found: 653.36.

¹H NMR: δ 9.42 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.73 (br, 2H), 8.14 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.43 (s, 2H), 6.75 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 3.90 (s, 6H), 3.10 (s, 8H), 1.28 (s, 18H). LC-MS: (6.57 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 648.32. Found: 649.32.

¹H NMR: δ 9.41 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.56 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 8.11 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.56 (s, 2H), 6.74 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 3.88 (s, 6H), 3.20 (t, J=9 Hz, 4H), 2.04-1.96 (m, 4H), 1.78-1.65 (m, 2H), 1.35 (s, 18H), 1.24-1.1 (m, 4H). LC-MS: (7.64 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 704.38. Found: 705.40.

¹H NMR: δ 9.42 (d, J=3 Hz, 2H), 8.62 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 8.12 (dd, J=9.5, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.48 (s, 2H), 6.65 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 3.72 (s, 6H), 3.30-3.20 (m, 4H), 3.20-3.10 (m, 2H), 2.14-2.05 (m, 2H), 1.95-1.85 (m, 4H), 1.85-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.38 (s, 18H). LC-MS: (7.64 min, m/z, ES⁺): calcd: 704.38. Found: 705.39.

Example 18 HCV Replicon Luciferase Assay

Day 0, Cell Seeding and Compound Treatment: Huh-Luc-Neo Cells are seeded at 25,000/well in an opaque-walled 96 plate with Growth Medium (DMEM phenol red free+PS+2 mM glutamine; 100 μl/well). The compounds to be tested are added to the experimental wells (10 μl/well at 10× assay concentration) and the cells are then incubated (5% CO₂, 37° C.) for 48 h.

Day 2, Reagent Preparation and Luciferase Assay: The Bright-Glo Luciferase Assay Buffer (Promega) is thawed and equilibrated to room temperature prior to use. The lyophilized Bright-Glo Luciferase Assay Substrate is equilibrated to room temperature prior to use. 10 ml of Bright-Glo Luciferase Assay Buffer is transferred to 1 vial of Bright-Glo Luciferase Assay Substrate bottle and mixed by gently with a Vortex. 100 ul of Bright-Glo Luciferase Assay reagent (Bright-Glo Luciferase Assay Buffer+Bright-Glo Luciferase Assay Substrate Mixture) is added to each well. The well contents are mixed for 5 min. on an orbital shaker at room temperature to induce cell lysis and the luminescence is then measured using a luminometer. The data is analyzed and IC50s are determined using GraphPad Prism 4 software. Hits validated in the Replicon Luciferase assay have IC50s<8.0 μM and show <30% inhibition of Cell Viability at a compound concentration of 100 μM (Cell Titer Glow Assay, cell viability assay conditions identical to HCV Replicon Luciferase Assay conditions).

Example 19 HCV Replicon RNA Assay

Day 0, Cell Seeding and Compound Treatment: Huh-Luc-Neo Cells are seeded at 25,000/well in an opaque-walled 96 plate with Growth Medium (DMEM phenol red free+PS+2 mM glutamine; 100 μl/well). The compounds to be tested are added to the experimental wells (10 μl/well at 10× assay concentration) and the cells are then incubated (5% CO₂, 37° C.).

Day 1, Media Change and Compound Treatment: 24 hours after the initial compound treatment the cell culture media is aspirated from the wells and fresh Growth Medium is added (DMEM phenol red free+PS+2 mM glutamine; 100 μl/well). The compounds to be tested are then added to the appropriate experimental wells (10 μl/well at 10× assay concentration) and the cells are then incubated (5% CO₂, 37° C.) for an additional 24 hrs.

Day 2, RNA Isolation and cDNA Synthesis: The cells are washed with 1× Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) once. Cells are then lysed and RNA is isolated in 96 well format using a vacuum manifold and the RNAeasy 96 kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's suggested protocol. cDNA is then synthesized from RNA isolated from each well using the Taqman Reverse Transcription Reagents kit (Applied Biosystems) according to manufacturer's suggested protocol.

Day 3, Quantitative PCR Based Measurement of HCV RNA (Taqman Assay): Quantitative PCR analysis to measure HCV RNA expression from cDNA synthesized on Day 2 is performed using the ABI 9700 HT Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems) as previously described (Lohman et al, Science 285, 110-113, 1999). The data is analyzed and IC50s are determined using GraphPad Prism 4 software. Hits validated in the Replicon RNA Assay have IC50s<8.0 μM and show <30% inhibition of Cell Viability at a compound concentration of 50 μM (Cell Titer Glow Assay, cell viability assay conditions identical to HCV Replicon RNA Assay conditions).

Example 20 Cell Titer-Glo Cell Viability Assay (Promega)

Day 0, Cell Seeding and Compound Treatment: Huh-Luc-Neo Cells are seeded at 25,000/well in an opaque-walled 96 plate with Growth Medium (DMEM phenol red free+PS+2 mM glutamine; 100 ul/well). The compounds to be tested for inhibition of cell viability are added to the experimental wells (10 μL/well at 10× assay concentration) and the cells are then incubated (5% CO₂, 37° C.) for 48 h.

Day 2, Reagent Preparation and Assay: The CellTiter-Glo Buffer is thawed and equilibrated to room temperature prior to use. The lyophilized CellTiter-Glo Substrate is equilibrated to room temperature prior to use. 10 ml of CellTiter-Glo Buffer is transferred to 1 vial of CellTiter-Glo Substrate and mixed by gently with a Vortex. 100 μl of CellTiter-Glo Assay reagent (CellTiter-Glo Buffer+CellTiter-Glo Substrate Mixture) is added to each well. The well contents are mixed for 5 min. on an orbital shaker at room temperature to induce cell lysis and the luminescence is then measured using a luminometer.

TABLE 5 Toxicity Toxicity Luciferase % Inhibition at TaqMan % Inhibition at Compound Structure IC50 100 μM (1 dose) IC50 50 μM (2 doses) VQ_23705

6.47 26.4 1.1 14.7 VQ_23708

0.55 63.8 0.7 21.8 VQ_23307

7.25 44.8 8.1 14.8 VQ_23317

4.37 10.7 2.7 2.1 VQ_23374

3.92 19.1 5.7 13.0 VQ_23714

1.16 31.5 0.1 33.4 VQ_23720

1.28 49.2 0.3 32.6 VQ_24691

5.13 21.1 0.09 28.3 VQ_23310

7.21 33.3 1.15 7.1 VQ_23382

14.92 18.5 3.03 8.8 VQ_34145

1.87 19.8 0.82 13.1 VQ_34298

5.5 18.3 3.86 23.9 VQ_34394

4.8 31.8 1.07 24.5 VQ_34395

3.7 45.4 0.68 23.6 VQ_34432

11.5 45.5 0.82 8.2 VQ_95538

9.8 24.3 1.35 6.1 VQ_35543

10.1 25.3 2.16 8.2 VQ_35556

9.3 28.8 0.99 13.7 VQ_35559

9.5 24.2 1.98 15.8 VQ_36658

0.04 21.8 0.40 38.8 VQ_36659

0.04 13.0 0.30 21.9 VQ_36660

10.36 15.3 0.59 15.8 VQ_36661

0.63 9.5 0.55 14.4 VQ_36663

0.00 15.5 0.75 23.8 VQ_36665

0.03 12.8 0.72 25.6 VQ_36666

0.35 12.9 0.38 19.0 VQ_36669

0.01 23.2 0.90 26.7 VQ_36673

2.09 15.9 0.42 19.7 VQ_36649

9.70 7.3 0.40 12.1 VQ_36877

0.20 10.9 VQ_36885

0.03 35.7 VQ_36886

0.19 12.6 VQ_36887

0.06 18.7 VQ_36893

0.09 16.6 VQ_36894

0.12 12.5 VQ_36895

0.10 10.4 VQ_36905

1.63 10.9 VQ_36906

2.69 14.0 VQ_36907

0.20 34.7 VQ_36908

1.72 22.7 VQ_23322

2.00 21.5 2.47 1.5 VQ_23324

5.51 39.8 0.03 8.8 VQ_23382

6.47 16.2 2.26 −1.6 VQ_30716

3.96 13.7 0.11 6.8 VQ_33518

1.85 40.4 0.42 22.8 VQ_34072

2.87 4.2 1.09 6.2 

1. The compound having the formula V:

wherein: each R¹ is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, —O—R¹¹, —N(R¹²)(R¹³), —N(R¹¹)C(O)R¹¹, —N(R¹¹)SO₂R¹¹, —SR¹¹, —C(O)R¹¹, —C(O)OR¹¹, —C(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), —OC(O)R¹¹, —OC(O)N(R¹²)(R¹³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR¹¹, —SO₃R¹¹, —SO₂N(R¹²)(R¹³), -alkyl-O—R¹¹, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halo, aryl or heteroaryl; additionally or alternatively two R¹ substituents on adjacent ring atoms may be combined to form a fused 5 or 6-membered ring, wherein the fused 5- or 6-membered ring may contain from 0 to 3 ring heteroatoms; each R¹¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; each R¹² and R¹³ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or R¹² and R¹³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached to form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further heteroatom; n is 0 to 4; R³ is H; R⁴⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and —(CH₂)_(a)—R⁴²; R⁴² is selected from the group consisting of —N(R⁴²¹)C(O)R⁴²¹, —N(R⁴²¹)SO₂R⁴²¹, —OR⁴²¹, —SR⁴²¹, —C(O)R⁴²¹, —C(O)OR⁴²¹—C(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), —OC(O)R⁴²¹, —OC(O)N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), CN, CF₃, NO₂, SO₂, —SOR⁴²¹, —SO₃R⁴²¹, —SO₂N(R⁴²²)(R⁴²³), -alkyl-O-alkyl, -alkyl-O-aryl, halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl; or R⁴² is

each R⁴²¹ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; each R⁴²² and R⁴²³ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or R⁴²² and R⁴²³ may be taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached to form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further heteroatom; each R⁴²⁴ is independently selected from H, OH, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; each R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or R⁴²⁵ and R⁴²⁶ may be taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a 5- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain a further heteroatom; a is 1 to 6; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


3. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


4. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


5. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


6. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


7. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


8. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


9. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


10. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


11. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


12. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


13. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


14. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


15. The compound of claim 1 having the formula


16. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of HCV infection, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of according to claim 1 in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 17. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 16, further comprising a second antiviral agent.
 18. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 17, wherein the second anti-viral agent is selected from the group consisting of an interferon, ribavirin, an HCV protease inhibitor, an HCV polymerase inhibitor, an HCV IRES inhibitor, an HCV Helicase, and an HCV ATPase inhibitor.
 19. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 18, wherein the second agent is an interferon.
 20. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 19, wherein the second agent is α-interferon. 